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 2003:
Harunobu was an extremely prolific ukiyoe printmaker specializing in images of the “floating world” --the famous Yoshiwara pleasure quarters of Japan’s Edo period (1600-1867). He is associated with the introduction of full-color printing, or nishikie, in the mid-1760s and established his own elegant style depicting delicate courtesans and other idealized young women.
This print comes from a five-volume set of pictures of courtesans engaged in a variety of artistic pursuits. The set, Yoshiwara bijin awase, published the year of the artist’s death, is often considered Harunobu’s masterpiece in the book-illustration genre. The illustrations, one on each page and one hundred and sixty-six in all, were intended as portraits of famous courtesans. However, as is often the case with Edo-period artists, few distinctive or individualized facial features can be seen, but there is endless variety in the attitudes of figures, the arrangement of garments, and the patterns of dresses. Each figure is accompanied by graceful calligraphic script, which gives the name of the woman and a seventeen-syllable poem on one of the four seasons.
In this charming portrait of the young courtesan Azumano, flowing but firm lines and delicate shading of color define a figure of almost childlike grace and fragility. The plum branch that Azumano is arranging echoes the patterns of her costume.
Archive Label date unknown:
Harunobu was a master of ukiyo-e, paintings and woodblock prints depicting the "floating world" of the famous pleasure quarters of Edo, Kyoto and Osaka. He is associated with the introduction of full-color printing or nishiki-e, for a series of beautifully executed calendar prints commissioned by several groups of wealthy samurai and merchant patrons in the mid 1760s. This print comes from a five-volume set of portraits of courtesans engaged in a variety of artistic pursuits. The set, Yoshiwara Bijin Awase, published the year of the artist's death, is often considered to be his finest illustrated book.
In this charming portrait of the young courtesan Azumana, 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 calligraphy that frames the figure and echoes its rhythms.
