Visit to a Shrine at the Hour of the Ox (Ushi no toki mairi)
Original title: Visit to a Shrine at the Hour of the Ox (Ushi no toki mairi)
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu made this colour woodblock print in 1765, titled 'Besuch eines Schreins zur Stunde des Ochsen'. It shows a woman in traditional dress standing beside a tree in a quiet landscape. The print measures 28.3 by 20.6 cm, placing it in the medium chu-ban format.
Description
Her yellow top and white trousers stand out, and her hair is piled high with an ornament. In her right hand she holds a stick, her gaze lifted, a smile on her face. A large tree with strong branches and dense foliage rises beside her. Wavy lines suggest water, and on the right appears a piece of yellow paper or a screen; at lower left is a red seal with Chinese characters.
Context
Harunobu is regarded as a pioneer of multicolour woodblock printing (nishiki-e), which took hold in Edo during the 1760s. The motif of the shrine visit at the hour of the ox (between 1 and 3 a.m.) is a traditional theme often linked with love magic or ritual acts. The print dates from 1765, the year of Harunobu's first full-colour woodcuts.
Impact
The calm layout and clear, flat colours create a quiet, almost lyrical mood. The woman's smile and the even, shadowless light give the scene something timeless and idealised.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, printed from several woodblocks — a process typical of Japanese ukiyo-e. Colours were applied with multiple blocks, allowing precise registration and fine gradations. Harunobu's characteristic features are delicate linework and a pastel-like palette.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)