Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1768, this woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu portrays a quiet domestic scene. A girl in a vivid red robe leans over a wooden balcony, ringing a small brass bell, while another girl in white watches from below with clasped hands. The composition captures a fleeting moment of interaction between the two figures.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a young woman engaged in a ritual gesture, suggested by the presence of a gohei—a ceremonial wand—on the balcony. The juxtaposition of the red and white garments may allude to themes of purity and vitality, inviting contemplation of everyday religious or seasonal practices.
Technique & Style
Harunobu employed the emerging nishiki-e method, carving a separate block for each hue. This multi-block process allowed the artist to achieve the striking reds and delicate blues that characterize the piece, marking a departure from earlier monochrome or hand‑colored prints.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the early phase of full‑color woodblock production in Japan, a period when artists began exploiting the technical possibilities of multi‑block printing. Its attribution to Harunobu situates it within his prolific output of genre scenes and portraiture during the mid‑eighteenth century.
Context
During the late Edo period, woodblock prints increasingly depicted scenes of daily life and religious observance. This image reflects contemporary interest in portraying women’s roles in ritual contexts, aligning with broader trends in ukiyo‑e that emphasized intimate, narrative moments.
Artist & collection
