Egrets in the Snow
c. 1768
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
27.6 × 20.6 cm (10 7/8 × 8 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23201
Art Historical Context
Suzuki Harunobu's *Egrets in the Snow* (c. 1768) is a delicate color woodblock print from Japan's Edo period, capturing the serene beauty of winter Harunobu, a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" genre that celebrated ephemeral pleasures—pioneered full-color nishiki-e prints around 1765. This chuban-format work (27.6 × 20.6 cm), smaller and more intimate than larger oban prints, invites close contemplation of its minimalist composition: elegant egrets poised amid falling snowflakes and bare branches. The print showcases Harunobu's innovative techniques, layering vibrant hue...
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...