The Eighth Month (Chushu), from the series "Popular Versions of Immortal Poets in Four Seasons (Fuzoku shiki kasen)"
c. 1768
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
28.2 × 21 cm（11 1/6 × 8 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
21046
Art Historical Context
Suzuki Harunobu's *The Eighth Month (Chushu)*, created around 1768, is a charming color woodblock print from the series *Popular Versions of Immortal Poets in Four Seasons (uzoku shiki kas)*. This chuban-format print (28.2 × 21 cm) captures the essence of late summer in Edo-period Japan, blending classical and Japanese poetry traditions with vibrant contemporary life. Harunobu, a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" depicting everyday pleasures—pioneered full-color nishiki-e prints in the 1760s, revolutionizing Japanese printmaking with their delicate hues and intricate detai...
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...