Artwork

鈴木春信画 あやとり|Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori)

鈴木春信画 あやとり|Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori), by Suzuki Harunobu, ink, 1766
鈴木春信画 あやとり|Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori), by Suzuki Harunobu, ink, 1766

鈴木春信画 あやとり|Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Young Women Playing Cat’s Cradle (Ayatori) is a nishiki-e woodblock print created by Suzuki Harunobu around 1766. The work is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two women in traditional robes engaged in a game of cat's cradle, conveying a sense of serene, shared concentration. Their calm, focused interaction emphasizes the beauty of simple, everyday moments.

Technique & Style

Harunobu employed advanced woodblock printing techniques, including meticulous color layering, to achieve the print's vibrant and detailed appearance. The subtle play of light and shadow may also incorporate cross-hatching, though this is not explicitly confirmed in the provided details.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1766, the print is now held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, though the full provenance history prior to its acquisition is not detailed here.

Context

Set against a backdrop featuring a horse scroll and a starry night sky visible through a window, the scene blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with the intimate, everyday activity of the two women.

Artist & collection