Meeting on the River (parody of Hakurakuten) c. 1767

This color woodblock print, Meeting on the River (parody of Hakurakuten), was created by Suzuki Harunobu in the 18th century. It’s a parody, a playful twist on classical themes, reflecting the culture of wit and allusion prevalent in Edo-period Japan. The print references a meeting between the Heian-era poet Hakurakuten and the monk Dōsen, reimagined with contemporary figures. We see not solemn scholars, but fashionable individuals in boats, their garments and hairstyles speaking to the evolving aesthetics of the time. Notice the contrast: a samurai, a courtesan, and a woman of the court, each representing different social strata, yet united in this artistic moment. Harunobu blurs the lines between the elite and the everyday, inviting us to consider the fluidity of identity and the shared human experiences. These figures, with their carefully rendered expressions, invite us into their intimate conversation, a dialogue that transcends social boundaries. The print, in its delicate lines and soft colors, captures a fleeting moment of connection.