Courtesan Itsuhata Smoking Her Pipe - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A classic nishiki-e woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, depicting the courtesan Itsuhata in a moment of quiet repose with her pipe.
Suzuki Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single woodblock composition. This print depicts the courtesan Itsuhata in a moment of quiet repose. She is shown kneeling, holding a long-stemmed kiseru pipe to her lips, with a portable tobacco tray resting before her. The composition is characteristic of Harunobu's style, featuring slender, graceful figures with doll-like features and a delicate, refined posture.
The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones of moss green, muted coral, and cream. The artist employs a flat spatial arrangement, typical of the period, where the figure is isolated against a neutral background. This focus on the subject allows the viewer to appreciate the subtle patterns on the kimono, specifically the geometric hemp-leaf motif on the lower hem. The inclusion of calligraphy in the upper left corner integrates text with the visual image, a common practice in Edo-period prints that links the visual art to the literary culture of the time.
Harunobu's work often captured the fleeting nature of the pleasure quarters, focusing on the daily lives and fashions of the women who inhabited them. By using multiple woodblocks, he achieved a level of colour sophistication that was previously unavailable in Japanese printmaking. This print demonstrates his ability to balance negative space with decorative elements, creating a composition that is both balanced and visually clear. The print serves as a record of the aesthetic preferences of the mid-eighteenth century, reflecting the fashion and social customs of the Yoshiwara district. The fine lines of the woodcut define the contours of the figure and the folds of the fabric, demonstrating the technical precision required for such multi-block printing processes.
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Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
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Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
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- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
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Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Courtesan Itsuhata Smoking Her Pipe - Suzuki Harunobu
Artist Biography
Suzuki Harunobu
Harunobu moved away from the stiff portraits of kabuki actors common in his era. He preferred to depict young women in their daily lives, often using an elevated viewpoint to look into private spaces. His series Zashiki hakkei, or Eight Parlour Views, provides a clear example of his method. He took classical Chinese themes and reimagined them as domestic scenes. A temple bell might become a chiming clock. A distant storm is represented by a woman drying herself after a bath.
Modern collectors value these prints for their quiet atmosphere and precise compositions. Harunobu avoided the aggressive energy of later ukiyo-e artists. He chose instead to focus on slender figures and soft colour harmonies. His work captures specific moments of leisure, such as playing cat's cradle or walking by the shore. These scenes offer a calm window into eighteenth-century Japan. They remain popular because they balance historical detail with a clean, graphic sensibility that suits contemporary interiors.
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