Two Ladies - Suzuki Harunobu
Archival giclée
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Description
A refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, depicting two women in a quiet domestic moment with delicate line work and soft colours.
Suzuki Harunobu was a central figure in the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which introduced full-colour printing to the ukiyo-e tradition. This work depicts two women in a domestic interior, a common subject within the bijin-ga genre, which focused on the beauty of women. One woman stands while the other kneels, holding a hand mirror to inspect her reflection. The composition relies on the subtle interplay of architectural lines and the soft, muted tones characteristic of Harunobu's mature period.
The artist employs a delicate line quality to define the figures and their garments. The spatial arrangement is relatively flat, typical of the period, with the interior space suggested through the placement of sliding screens and the lantern. The inclusion of calligraphy at the top of the print integrates text with the visual narrative, a common practice in Japanese woodblock printing that adds a layer of literary context to the scene. The colour palette is restrained, favouring soft pinks, muted greens, and earthy tones that create a sense of quietude.
Harunobu's work is recognised for its lyrical quality and the slender, ethereal proportions of his subjects. By moving away from the more robust figures seen in earlier ukiyo-e, he established a new aesthetic standard for the depiction of women in Edo-period Japan. This print captures a fleeting moment of daily life, rendered with technical precision and a refined sensibility. The use of multiple woodblocks allowed for the layering of colours, resulting in the nuanced appearance of the textiles and the subtle shading of the background elements. This piece offers a clear view into the artistic innovations that defined the mid-eighteenth-century Japanese print market.
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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
Two Ladies - 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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