Title : Lovers Sharing an Umbrella

Artist : Suzuki Harunobu

Date : 1760 c.

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Suzuki Harunobu was an ukiyo-e artist of the mid-Edo period (mid-18th century). He contributed to the development of nishiki-e prints (multi-woodblock full-color prints). Harunobu enjoyed patronage from Edo's cultural elite, and his art often depicted scenes from classics in the contemporary fashion demonstrating his client's high tastes. For example, Harunobu was hired as an artist for the production of privately commissioned New Year's calendars by Ökubo Jinshiro Tadanobu (Kyosen), a high-ranking samurai. In the Edo period, cultural gatherings were held to create haiku poems. During New Year's celebrations, these poetry circles often exchanged hand-made pictorial calendars that contained witty verses or visual games. Such calendars commonly took the form of woodblock prints, and since they were privately commissioned in limited numbers, they could be elaborate productions that used expensive materials and complex techniques. This print portrays a young couple sharing an umbrella in snow. The simple tonal colors of black and white impart a sense of tranquility. A closer look reveals the sophisticated technique of embossing to provide a sense of volume, particularly in the folds of clothing. (Feb 2011)

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