HARUNOBU 鈴木春信 浮世絵 美人と若衆の舟遊び Boat Scene on Sumida River | Edo Nishiki-e Woodblock Print Reproduction

About the Artwork:
This refined ukiyo-e woodblock print reproduction presents a poetic riverside scene by Suzuki Harunobu (鈴木春信), one of the most influential artists of Japan’s Edo period. The composition depicts a beautiful woman (bijin) and her elegant companion enjoying a boat ride on the Sumida River (隅田川) — a romantic motif symbolizing fleeting love and seasonal beauty.

Harunobu’s delicate color palette and lyrical lines capture the serenity of Edo life. His pioneering use of nishiki-e (multi-color printing) transformed Japanese art, bringing a new level of refinement and emotional nuance to ukiyo-e portraiture. Each figure is rendered with grace, their gestures expressing both affection and quiet melancholy — hallmarks of Harunobu’s poetic vision.

Cultural and Historical Significance:
Active during the mid-18th century, Harunobu was the first artist to produce full-color prints using multiple woodblocks. His works marked a revolution in Japanese visual culture, blending literary allusion, romance, and daily life. Themes of lovers on boats, courtesans, and seasonal transitions became symbols of mono no aware (the beauty of impermanence).

This piece reflects the harmony between nature and emotion, where gentle water ripples and distant figures echo the transience of time — an eternal theme in Japanese aesthetics.

Why It’s Special:

• Authentic reproduction of Suzuki Harunobu’s Edo masterpiece

• Printed on high-quality washi paper, preserving the subtle pastel tones of the original

• Captures the early Edo innovation of nishiki-e multicolor technique

• Ideal for collectors of ukiyo-e, Edo-period art, or Japanese romantic scenes

• Museum-quality edition produced by Shueisha, honoring Harunobu’s original design

Graceful, timeless, and poetic — this Harunobu print embodies the refined spirit of Edo beauty and the birth of color printing, making it a rare treasure within Gallery Sekai’s ukiyo-e collection.