Nature/Natural
Harunobu is associated with the popularization of the color printing process nishiki-e (“brocade pictures”) and is well known for his graceful depictions of petite figures. These woodblock prints come from a single album in his book illustration tour de force, a five-volume set of the beautiful courtesans in Edo’s pleasure district. Calligraphic script names each woman and emblems on her sleeves identify the house to which she belonged. Many courtesans cultivated skills of great refinement, and each page of this series depicts a seated woman engaged in a solitary pastime, such as writing a letter, playing a musical instrument, or appreciating flowers. The 17-syllable poems accompanying these figures allude to snow, suggesting that these prints all belong to the 5th album that is dedicated to winter. The four other albums in the set similarly concentrate on seasonal themes (vol. 1, spring; vol. 2-3, summer; vol. 4, autumn), playing on the traditional Asian theme of equating the ephemeral beauty of women with the transitory seasons of the natural world.
Harunobu is associated with the popularization of the color printing process nishiki-e (“brocade pictures”) and is well known for his graceful depictions of petite figures. These woodblock prints come from a single album in his book illustration tour de force, a five-volume set of the beautiful courtesans in Edo’s pleasure district. Calligraphic script names each woman and emblems on her sleeves identify the house to which she belonged. Many courtesans cultivated skills of great refinement, and each page of this series depicts a seated woman engaged in a solitary pastime, such as writing a letter, playing a musical instrument, or appreciating flowers. The 17-syllable poems accompanying these figures allude to snow, suggesting that these prints all belong to the 5th album that is dedicated to winter. The four other albums in the set similarly concentrate on seasonal themes (vol. 1, spring; vol. 2-3, summer; vol. 4, autumn), playing on the traditional Asian theme of equating the ephemeral beauty of women with the transitory seasons of the natural world.
Exhibition Label:
"Nature/Natural," Feb-2011, Kris Ercums
Harunobu is associated with the popularization of the color printing process nishiki-e (“brocade pictures”) and is well known for his graceful depictions of petite figures. These woodblock prints come from a single album in his book illustration tour de force, a five-volume set of the beautiful courtesans in Edo’s pleasure district. Calligraphic script names each woman and emblems on her sleeves identify the house to which she belonged. Many courtesans cultivated skills of great refinement, and each page of this series depicts a seated woman engaged in a solitary pastime, such as writing a letter, playing a musical instrument, or appreciating flowers. The 17-syllable poems accompanying these figures allude to snow, suggesting that these prints all belong to the 5th album that is dedicated to winter. The four other albums in the set similarly concentrate on seasonal themes (vol. 1, spring; vol. 2-3, summer; vol. 4, autumn), playing on the traditional Asian theme of equating the ephemeral beauty of women with the transitory seasons of the natural world.
Archive Label date unknown:
Harunobu was a master of ukiyoe, woodblock prints depicting the "floating world" of the famous pleasure quarters of Edo, Kyoto and Osaka. The art of portraying bijin (beautiful women) has had a long tradition in Japan, with courtesans as the most common subject. Often highly trained and well-educated, these women were accomplished musicians, calligraphers, poets and conversationalists. This print is one of a series of pictures of Edo courtesans and was published as part of a five volume set in 1770, the year Harunobu died.
In this charming portrait of the young courtesan Katsuragi, flowing lines define a figure of almost childlike grace and fragility. Although Harunobu gives no background, the figure is quietly settled in space by the hem of her robe as it touches the border of the print. The calligraphy above is an important part of the total composition, framing the figure and echoing its rhythms.
