Murasaki Shikibu Admiring the Moon at Ishiyama-dera - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A refined woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicting the author Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama-dera temple, capturing a moment of quiet literary inspiration.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts the legendary Heian-period author Murasaki Shikibu at the Ishiyama-dera temple. According to tradition, the author composed her masterpiece, The Tale of Genji, while observing the moon from this specific location. Harunobu, a pioneer of the nishiki-e or brocade print, employs a delicate colour palette to capture the quiet atmosphere of the scene.
The composition is structured around the verticality of the temple architecture and the surrounding natural forms. The figure of Murasaki Shikibu is positioned within the elevated veranda, her form simplified to emphasise the grace of her posture as she gazes towards the horizon. The moon, rendered as a pale disc against a soft sky, provides a sense of scale and temporal stillness. Harunobu uses flat planes of colour and clean lines to define the temple structure, the craggy rocks, and the flowering branches that frame the view.
As a master of the mid-Edo period, Harunobu moved away from the bold, limited-colour prints of his predecessors. He favoured subtle gradations and a more lyrical approach to subject matter. This work demonstrates his ability to integrate literary history with the aesthetic conventions of the ukiyo-e tradition. The print relies on a balanced arrangement of space, where the emptiness of the sky contrasts with the density of the temple and the foreground foliage. The result is a composition that feels both grounded in its architectural details and ethereal in its mood. This print offers a glimpse into the refined sensibilities of the eighteenth-century Japanese print market, where historical themes were frequently reimagined through the lens of contemporary artistic techniques.
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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
Murasaki Shikibu Admiring the Moon at Ishiyama-dera - 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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