{"product_id":"young-man-riding-a-giant-tortoise-parody-of-urashima-taro-suzuki-harunobu","title":"Young Man Riding a Giant Tortoise (Parody of Urashima Taro) - Suzuki Harunobu","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, depicting a young man atop a giant tortoise in a playful parody of the classic Urashima Taro folktale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a young man seated upon the back of a large tortoise, a clear reference to the Japanese folktale of Urashima Taro. Harunobu, a master of the nishiki-e (brocade print) technique, uses a delicate palette and refined line work to present this scene. The work functions as a mitate-e, or parody print, where classical themes are reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary Edo-period fashion and aesthetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figure is dressed in the attire of a young man of the period, holding a fishing rod, which aligns with the traditional narrative of the fisherman who visits the undersea palace of the Dragon King. The tortoise, rendered with decorative patterns on its shell, serves as the mythical vessel for this journey. Harunobu avoids heavy shading, opting instead for flat planes of colour and subtle gradients that define the forms of the figure and the creature. The background features a stylised sun, adding a graphic element to the composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarunobu was instrumental in the development of multi-coloured printing in the 1760s. His prints are known for their slender, graceful figures and their ability to blend literary allusion with the everyday life of the floating world. This specific print demonstrates his skill in balancing the fantastical nature of the subject with the grounded, humanised portrayal of the protagonist. The inclusion of calligraphy at the top of the print integrates text with image, a common practice in ukiyo-e that adds a layer of poetic context to the visual narrative. The print remains a fine example of the sophisticated print culture that flourished in Japan during the mid-eighteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/parody-of-the-legend-of-xu-you-and-chao-fu-okumura-masanobu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eParody of the Legend of Xu You and Chao Fu by Okumura Masanobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/parody-of-hanshan-and-shide-kanzan-and-jittoku-isoda-koryusai\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eParody of Hanshan and Shide (Kanzan and Jittoku) by Isoda Koryūsai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/collections\/suzuki-harunobu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSuzuki Harunobu artwork →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Suzuki Harunobu","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58927900655951,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927900721487,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927900819791,"sku":null,"price":290.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58927900852559,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927900918095,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Young-Man-Riding-a-Giant-Tortoise-Parody-of-Urashima-Taro-_Poster_CompositorV1_1790700299182-q80.jpg?v=1792565584","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/products\/young-man-riding-a-giant-tortoise-parody-of-urashima-taro-suzuki-harunobu","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}