Poem by Sanjo'in no Nyokurodo Sakon, from an untitled series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets c. 1767 - 1768

This print, by Suzuki Harunobu, is part of an untitled series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets. The artist uses delicate lines and soft colors, primarily pinks and greens, to construct an intimate scene of two women on a veranda. Notice how the composition uses the architecture of the veranda itself—the receding lines of the steps and the vertical divisions of the screen—to create a sense of depth within a flattened space. This flattening is typical of ukiyo-e prints, and it engages with broader questions about perspective and representation. The artist uses these lines to lead the eye around the space, highlighting the details. The way the lines of the kimono fold and flow, combined with the curves of the women’s hairstyles, destabilizes the geometric composition with a graceful tension between structure and fluidity. This tension is a key element of the artwork's aesthetic and conceptual power.