Japanese Woodblock Prints
Japanese Woodblock Prints
Lot Closed
December 19, 01:04 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Suzuki Haruonbu (1725-1770)
Moon (Tsuki)
Edo period, 18th century
woodblock print, from the series Fashionable Snow, Moon and Flowers (Furyu setsugekka), signed Harunobu ga (Pictured by Harunobu), circa 1768–69
Vertical chuban: 28.4 x 21.4 cm,. 11⅛ x 8⅜ in.
A courtesan smokes a kiseru as she gazes at the full moon. Beside her is a black lacquered tray for smoking utensils decorated with two white crane roundels in reserve. Her young attendant brings her shamisen, a three-stringed lute instrument. They wear kimono respectively embroidered with plovers (chidori) in flight above crashing waves and autumn maple leaves (momiji). A spray of bush clover can be spotted outside the window, indicating the autumn season. The title of the series Snow, Moon and Flowers (Setsugekka) alludes to classical ideals of natural beauty in Japanese art and design. The subject became increasingly popular among artists over the course of the Edo period (1615-1868).
For a similar impression of the same print in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession number 21.4475, go to: