Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a scene of hyakudo mairi, a Shinto ritual involving one hundred visits to a shrine.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a scene of hyakudo mairi, a Shinto ritual involving one hundred visits to a shrine. The composition features a daughter figure ascending a set of stairs that lead to a Shinto shrine. By illustrating this specific act of devotion, the work captures a moment of religious practice within the ukiyo-e tradition.
The imagery focuses on the physical journey of the pilgrim as she approaches the sacred structure, emphasizing the intersection of daily life and spiritual obligation in Edo-period Japan.
Technique & Style
Untitled is a ukiyo-e woodblock print created by Suzuki Harunobu using ink and color on paper. The work depicts a Shinto shrine, a daughter, hyakudo mairi, and stairs, rendered in the characteristic style of Edo-period nishiki-e with layered color application and precise line work. It was produced as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and exemplifies the formal stylistic qualities of traditional Japanese printmaking, including flat color fields and compositional balance.
The print's medium and support consist of paper printed with multiple woodblocks, a technique typical of nishiki-e production. Its condition and handling history are not detailed in the provided sources, and no specific formal or stylistic analysis beyond general ukiyo-e characteristics is documented.
History & Provenance
Untitled, a woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicting a Shinto shrine, a daughter, hyakudo mairi, and stairs, was created as part of his ukiyo-e series. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, indicating its provenance through institutional acquisition. Its creation history aligns with Harunobu's active period in the mid-18th century, though specific dating details are not provided in the sources.
The Untitled woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in the Wikidata entry for the work. No accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created in 1748 by the Edo‑period artist Suzuki Harunobu, this untitled woodblock print presents a quiet scene of a young woman ascending the stone steps of a Shinto shrine. Rendered in delicate pinks, blues and muted grays, the composition captures a serene morning atmosphere as cherry blossoms drift around the figure.
Context
During the mid‑Edo period, pilgrimages such as the hyakudo mairi were popular among urban dwellers seeking spiritual merit. Harunabu’s depiction aligns with contemporary interests in documenting quotidian religious practices, offering insight into the visual culture surrounding shrine visits in 1740s Japan.
Artist & collection
