Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Suzuki Harunobu, ink, 1767
Untitled, by Suzuki Harunobu, ink, 1767

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This untitled woodblock print, dated to 1767, is the work of Japanese artist Suzuki Harunobu and is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene garden scene with two women. One, kneeling among tall reeds, holds a fan, while the other stands beneath a striped umbrella, adorned in a flower-patterned robe. The tranquil atmosphere is underscored by a light rain.

Technique & Style

Harunobu employed fine lines to achieve depth and texture, evident in the shading of the women's clothing, the umbrella's pattern, and the rain's diagonal lines and scattered drops, exemplifying the woodblock print technique of cross-hatching for nuanced shading.

History & Provenance

Created in 1767, the print is attributed to Suzuki Harunobu. Its current holding is at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, though the full provenance history is not detailed here.

Context

Produced during the Edo period, this work reflects the era's aesthetic preferences for natural settings and everyday life scenes, characteristic of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Legacy

As a work by Suzuki Harunobu, a pivotal figure in the development of ukiyo-e, this print contributes to the broader legacy of Japanese woodblock printing's influence on global art, though its specific impact is not individually highlighted.

Artist & collection