Waves on Moonlight 1758 - 1778

Suzuki Harunobu created this woodblock print, entitled Waves on Moonlight, sometime before his death in 1770. The print gives us a window into the intimate lives of women in 18th-century Japan. During the Edo period, when Harunobu was working, Japan saw a rise of a merchant class and with it, a culture of leisure and entertainment. Harunobu was at the forefront of full-color prints, or “brocade prints.” This technique allowed for a greater range of expression, capturing subtleties of emotion and the nuances of daily life. Here, we see two women in what appears to be a moment of quiet domesticity. One gazes out at the sea; the other prepares tea. The print subtly challenges the conventional depictions of women of the era, who were often either courtesans or idealized figures. Harunobu instead captures a sense of everyday beauty and quiet strength. The waves of the sea and the moonlight evoke themes of longing, reflection, and the passage of time. Harunobu’s print celebrates the emotional depth and resilience of women.