Ehon Chitoseyama - Nishikawa Sukenobu

A woodblock print from the 1737 illustrated book Ehon Chitoseyama by Nishikawa Sukenobu, featuring scenes of traditional Japanese life and performance.

This woodblock print originates from the illustrated book Ehon Chitoseyama, published in 1737. Nishikawa Sukenobu was a prolific artist based in Kyoto, known for his contributions to the development of the ehon, or illustrated book, format. Unlike the single-sheet prints produced by his contemporaries in Edo, Sukenobu focused on multi-page narratives that integrated text and image to convey classical themes and contemporary life.

The composition displays a characteristic split-scene layout common in eighteenth-century Japanese book illustration. On the left, a figure performs a dance while holding a fan, observed by seated companions. On the right, a group gathers within a room defined by sliding screens, or shoji, which feature subtle depictions of pine trees. The lines are clean and precise, reflecting the technical requirements of woodblock carving for mass-produced literature. The text, written in flowing kana script, occupies the upper portions of the pages, creating a balance between the visual narrative and the written word.

Sukenobu's work is notable for its focus on the daily lives of women and the cultural practices of the Kyoto aristocracy and merchant classes. His style is less concerned with the exaggerated features found in later ukiyo-e, preferring a more restrained and graceful depiction of his subjects. The architectural elements, such as the tatami mats and the folding screens, provide a sense of spatial depth despite the two-dimensional nature of the medium. This print offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the mid-Edo period, where literature and visual art were closely linked in the production of popular books. The paper shows the natural ageing expected of a document from this era, adding to its historical character.