The Jewel River at Chofu (Chofu no Tamagawa), from an untitled series of Six Jewel Rivers
c. 1767
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
28.2 × 20.9 cm (11 1/8 × 8 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20846
Art Historical Context
Suzuki Harunobu's *The Jewel River at ChofuChofu no Tamagawa, created around 1767, captures one of Japan's celebrated "Six Jewel Rivers," poetic landmarks renowned for their shimmering waters likened to jewels. Part of an untitled series, this color woodblock print (nish-e) depicts the serene Chofu River in its natural splendor, evoking the elegance of Edo-period (1603–1868). Harunobu, a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" genre—pioneered full-color printing in 1765, bringing vibrant hues to affordable chuban-format sheets like this 28.2 × 20.9 cm work. Harunobu's technique...
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...