The Kagura Dance - Suzuki Harunobu
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Description
A delicate woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicting a young woman performing a traditional Shinto Kagura dance.
Suzuki Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single woodblock composition. This print depicts a young woman performing a Kagura dance, a ritual performance associated with Shinto shrines. She holds a suzu, a handheld bell instrument, in her right hand and a gohei, a ritual wand adorned with paper streamers, across her shoulders.
The figure is rendered with the slender, ethereal proportions characteristic of Harunobu's work. Her kimono features a pattern of cranes, a motif often associated with longevity and good fortune. The composition is balanced by the architectural elements of the shrine, including the stone steps and the red-lacquered railing, which provide a sense of spatial depth despite the flattened perspective typical of the period. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft greys, muted reds, and warm ochre tones to create a harmonious visual experience.
Harunobu's mastery of the woodblock medium is evident in the precise registration of the colours and the delicate line work. The print captures a moment of quiet ritual, focusing on the grace of the performer rather than the spectacle of the dance itself. The use of negative space around the figure draws attention to her posture and the ritual objects she carries. This work reflects the refined aesthetic of the mid-Edo period, where the depiction of elegant figures in domestic or ritual settings became a primary subject for printmakers. The print demonstrates the technical sophistication achieved by Japanese artisans in the late 18th century, moving away from the limited colour schemes of earlier eras toward a more nuanced and painterly approach to the woodblock medium.
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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
The Kagura Dance - 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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