Daruma in a Boat with an Attendant
ca. 1767
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); W. 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1625
Tags
Art Historical Context
Suzuki Harunobu's *Daruma in a Boat an Attendant* (ca. 1767) is a delightful woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifying the ukiyo-e tradition of "pictures of the floating world." Harunobu a pioneering artist, revolutionized printmaking around 1765 by introducing full-color *nishiki-e* (brocade pictures), layering vibrant inks and colors on paper through intricate woodblock carving. This intimate *ōban* format (11¼ × 8⅛ in.) captures the essence of everyday whimsy blended with cultural icons. The scene humorously reimagines Daruma, the legendary bearded founder of Zen Bud...
About the Artist
Suzuki Harunobu · 1725–1770
Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1725-1770) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who revolutionized woodblock printing by developing nishiki-e—full-color prints using multiple woodblocks—in 1765. Before Harunobu, Japanese prints were limited to two or three colors; his innovation unleashed the entire artist's palette, transforming ukiyo-e into the vibrant art form that would later captivate Western artists from Manet...