Harunobu (1724 - 1770 )
While little is known about his early life, Harunobu Suzuki (né Hozumi) was a ukiyo-e woodblock print artist that lived and worked in Edo. Said to have been the student of Shigenaga, Harunobu’s early actor prints suggest the strong influence of Toyonobu, Sukenobu and the Torii school. Though he began his print career with actor prints, Harunobu's later prints focused on young girls and the tantalizing courtesans of Edo. In the spring of 1765, Edo saw the first nishiki-e (full-color prints). Commissioned by wealthy patrons, the first full-color prints took the form of egoyomi (calendar prints). Intricate and lavish, these private Harunobu Suzuki prints were soon released in separate, public editions through publishers and booksellers. Harunobu Suzuki used nishiki-e to capture the urban, everyday world of Edo in brilliant color. He is considered a true luminary of ukiyo-e, a talent beyond compare. He produced over 500 printed works, as well as many paintings, before his death in 1770. From shunga (erotic prints) to classical poems, he is a master of color. Harunobu Suzuki’s genius is particularly apparent in his depictions of young women. Presenting a delicate, youthful vision of idealized femininity, he is an ukiyo-e artist that influenced many artists to come.
Japanese Woodblock Prints (1600 - 1800)
Early ukiyo-e, or pictures (e) of the floating world (ukiyo), emerged around 1660 with monochrome prints. The masters of this “primitive” period, such as Moronobu and Masanobu, are known for their elegant and vital lines. By 1700, the first early color prints emerged. Hand-colored with vegetable-based pigments, this process proved costly and was replaced by full-color printing in 1765. Known as the father of color printing, Harunobu ushered in the era of nishiki-e, or brocade pictures, with sensitivity and subtlety. The late 18th century welcomed a “golden age” of ukiyo-e, during which time artists developed the use of color and diversified their approach to subject matter. Sharaku imbued his actor portraits with a greater sense of individualism, while Utamaro delved deeper into the “greenhouses” of the Yoshiwara, considering the private lives of courtesans. Browse our collection of early ukiyo-e below.
28 Products
Harunobu
Courtesans and Kamuro Beneath a Flowering Tree
JPR-210384
Harunobu
Young Woman Eavesdropping on Lovers while Reading Shunga Books
JPR-208800
Harunobu
Black and White Oxen and Red and White Plum Blossoms
JP-207871