Summer, from the series New Versions of Flowers of the Four Seasons - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A refined woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicting a woman on a veranda, representing the summer season through delicate line work and seasonal motifs.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu belongs to the series New Versions of Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shinpan furyu shiki no hana), produced during the late 1760s. Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colour blocks to create complex, multi-hued images. This technical shift moved away from the limited palettes of earlier ukiyo-e production.
The composition depicts a woman in a domestic setting, captured in a moment of quiet activity. She stands on a veranda, her posture relaxed as she adjusts her kimono. The scene incorporates seasonal motifs, specifically irises, which signify the summer months. A wind chime hangs from the eaves, a common sensory detail in Japanese art to evoke the heat of the season. The architectural elements, such as the sliding doors and the wooden flooring, provide a structured frame for the figure, while the soft, muted colour palette emphasises the gentle atmosphere of the interior space.
Harunobu’s work is known for its slender, ethereal figures, often referred to as doll-like in their proportions. The lines are fine and controlled, reflecting the precision required for woodblock carving. The print avoids heavy shading, relying instead on the balance of negative space and the placement of decorative elements to guide the viewer's eye. This piece demonstrates the artist's ability to integrate human subjects with seasonal symbolism, a common theme in the ukiyo-e tradition. The print serves as an example of the refined aesthetic that defined the Edo period, where the focus remained on the fleeting beauty of daily life and the changing natural world.
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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
Summer, from the series New Versions of Flowers of the Four Seasons - 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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