Xu You and Chao Fu - Okumura Masanobu

A classic sumizuri-e woodblock print by Okumura Masanobu depicting the legendary hermits Xu You and Chao Fu in a stark, monochrome composition.

This woodblock print by Okumura Masanobu depicts the legendary Chinese hermits Xu You and Chao Fu. The composition utilises the sumizuri-e technique, which relies on black ink printed on white paper to create a stark, graphic contrast. Masanobu, a central figure in the development of Ukiyo-e, demonstrates his mastery of line and negative space here. The scene captures a moment of moral decision: Xu You, positioned above, washes his ear in a waterfall to cleanse himself of the impurities of worldly ambition after being offered the throne. Below, Chao Fu approaches with his ox, refusing to let the animal drink from the water polluted by Xu You's act of purification.

The print reflects the influence of Chinese literati painting on Japanese artists of the Edo period. Masanobu employs a calligraphic line quality that defines the figures and the cascading water with economy and precision. The dark, ink-heavy background pushes the figures forward, creating a sense of depth despite the two-dimensional nature of the medium. The inclusion of calligraphy within the image area integrates text and visual narrative, a common practice in Japanese printmaking. This work exemplifies the artist's ability to adapt classical themes into the popular print format of his time. The focus remains on the narrative tension between the two figures, conveyed through their postures and the symbolic setting of the waterfall. As a piece of historical printmaking, it offers insight into the aesthetic priorities of the mid-eighteenth century, where technical innovation in printing allowed for greater expressive range in monochrome works.