Night Rain of Genjo - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A delicate woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicting a woman walking through a night rain shower, rendered in the refined nishiki-e style.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu belongs to the series Furyu utai hakkei, or Parodies of Eight Scenes from Noh Chants. Harunobu was a pioneer of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which introduced full-colour printing to the ukiyo-e tradition. This specific work reinterprets the classical theme of the Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang, a subject traditionally associated with Chinese painting, by transposing it into the contemporary world of Edo-period Japan.
The composition features a young woman walking through a rain shower at night. She holds a yellow paper umbrella to shield herself from the downpour, while a small lantern hangs from her hand to light her path. Harunobu uses thin, delicate lines to define the figure, whose slender proportions are characteristic of his style. The rain is depicted through sharp, diagonal lines that cut across the upper portion of the print, providing a sense of movement against the static, architectural background of the wooden structure.
The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft ochres, muted browns, and subtle greys. This choice of tone creates an atmosphere of quiet solitude. The woman wears a kimono with minimal pattern, allowing the focus to remain on her posture and the atmospheric conditions of the scene. By referencing Noh chants, Harunobu adds a layer of cultural allusion, inviting the viewer to connect the visual experience of the print with the auditory and poetic traditions of the time. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the mid-eighteenth-century Japanese woodblock process, where multiple blocks were used to achieve the layered colour effects seen in the umbrella and the wooden walls. This work remains a representative example of the refined aesthetic that defined Harunobu's career.
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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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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
Night Rain of Genjo - 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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