The Bijin Kinko
ca. 1766
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 8 3/16 in. (20.8 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Accession Number
JP864
Tags
Art Historical Context
Suzuki Harunobu's *The Bijin Kinko* (ca. 1766) is a delicate woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868), capturing the essence of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the world" that celebrated fleeting pleasures like beauty and leisure Harunobu, a pioneering artist, revolutionized printmaking around this time by full-color nishiki-ebrocade pictures), layering vibrant inks to achieve unprecedented depth and realism paper. This intimate work, measuring just 8 3/16 2 3/4 inches, exemplifies the narrow *hashira-e* format, designed for hanging on pillars in homes. The title, translating to "Beauty w...
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...