early life and influences
suzuki harunobu, a japanese designer of woodblock print art in the ukiyo-e style, was born in 1725. little is known about his early life, but it is believed he grew up in kyoto. his work shows evidence of influences from many artists, including torii kiyomitsu, ishikawa toyonobu, the kawamata school, and the kanō school. however, the strongest influence upon harunobu was the painter and printmaker nishikawa sukenobu, who may have been harunobu's direct teacher.artistic career
harunobu began his career in the style of the torii school, creating many works that were skillful but not innovative. however, with his involvement with a group of literati samurai, he tackled new formats and styles. in 1764, harunobu was chosen to aid these samurai in their amateur efforts to create e-goyomi (calendars). these calendar prints would be the first nishiki-e (brocade prints), with harunobu experimenting with better woods for the woodblocks and using more expensive colors.notable works and innovations
- suzuki harunobu's "brocade prints" led to full-color production becoming standard, with ten or more blocks used to create each print.
- his use of multiple separate woodblocks in the creation of a single image was an innovation that depended on using notches and wedges to hold the paper in place.
- harunobu's prints were popular with the chōnin class, who had become wealthy enough to afford to decorate their homes with them.
legacy
suzuki harunobu's work was central to forming the west's perception of japanese art in the late 19th century. his influence can be seen in the landscapes of hokusai and hiroshige, which were popularized during the japonisme trend.- view suzuki harunobu's artworks on ArtsDot
- read more about suzuki harunobu on wikipedia
- explore ukiyo-e art on ArtsDot
notable paintings and artists
- utagawa hiroshige's kyoka tokaido series, seki (view on ArtsDot)
- miyagawa isshō's shimabara courtesans exorcizing demons (view on ArtsDot)
- utagawa kuniyoshi's a votive tablet with masks of kabuki actors at face value (view on ArtsDot)
museums and collections
- indianapolis museum of art (indianapolis, united states)
- fukuoka city museum (fukuoka, japan)
Questions & Answers
Is there an overview of all the subjects Suzuki Harunobu painted?
The Subject Atlas of Suzuki Harunobu is a page that maps the artist's artworks by their subjects.
Where are Suzuki Harunobu's artworks grouped by technique?
Suzuki Harunobu's works can be browsed by medium on the artist's All Medium page.
What colors did Suzuki Harunobu use most often?
The color profile of Suzuki Harunobu's work is shown on the artist's Palette Genome page.
How do I find works by Suzuki Harunobu in a specific palette?
To find works by Suzuki Harunobu in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.
What are the birth city and country of Suzuki Harunobu?
Suzuki Harunobu was born in Tokyo, in Japan.
Where is Suzuki Harunobu from?
Suzuki Harunobu was born in Japan.
What are the birthplace and birth year of Suzuki Harunobu?
Suzuki Harunobu was born in Tokyo in 1725.
