Girl Playing Koto by Chigaidana - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A refined woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu showing a woman playing the koto within a traditional Japanese interior.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a young woman seated before a koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. The composition is set within an interior space defined by chigaidana, or staggered shelves, which serve as a structural element to frame the subject. The artist employs the nishiki-e technique, a method of multi-coloured printing that allowed for a greater range of hues than earlier monochrome or two-colour prints.
Harunobu is recognised for his slender, graceful figures, often placed in domestic settings that suggest a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. The woman wears a patterned kimono, rendered with soft tones that harmonise with the muted background. Above the shelves, a decorative transom features an iris motif, adding a seasonal reference to the scene. The spatial arrangement is flattened, a characteristic of the Ukiyo-e style, which prioritises decorative balance over linear perspective.
Every element, from the placement of the tea utensils on the shelves to the gentle curve of the woman's posture, contributes to a sense of domestic refinement. The print captures a moment of artistic focus, typical of the genre's interest in the daily lives of women in the Edo period. The lines are fine and controlled, reflecting the technical precision required by the woodblock carvers who worked alongside the artist. This work provides a view into the aesthetic values of eighteenth-century Japan, where the integration of nature, music, and interior design formed a cohesive visual language.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
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.
Care and materials
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
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- 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
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
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
Girl Playing Koto by Chigaidana - 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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