The Clear-day Mountain Wind of the Fan
Original title: The Clear-day Mountain Wind of the Fan
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1766, Suzuki Harunobu created "The Clear Day Wind of the Fan": a color woodblock print in ink and color on paper, measuring 28.6 x 8 cm, showing two women in an interior.
Description
Two women in Japanese dress stand in a room framed by wooden posts and a wooden door. The figure on the left wears a green kimono with pink and brown stripes and holds a fan; her hair is elaborately styled and ornamented. The right figure wears a patterned orange robe and holds a red-brown fan, her hair likewise intricately arranged. Earth tones and pastels dominate the palette, and the light falls evenly and softly.
Context
Harunobu is regarded as a pioneer of multicolor woodblock printing, nishiki-e, in the Edo period. By the time this print was made around 1766, he had already made a name for himself with elegant depictions of women and scenes of everyday life. The title suggests a series with wind motifs. It was printed for an urban audience in Edo, present-day Tokyo, who delighted in delicate, poetic images.
Impact
The symmetrical placement of the figures and the muted pastel palette give the image a calm, balanced tone. Soft contours and the richly decorated kimonos create an elegant, almost intimate mood.
Technique
Ink and colors were transferred from woodblocks to paper. Only the use of multiple printing blocks allowed the nuanced color transitions and precise patterns visible on the kimonos.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)