The Evening Bell of the Clock (Tokei no bansho), from the series "Eight Views of the Parlor (Zashiki hakkei)" c. 1766

Suzuki Harunobu created "The Evening Bell of the Clock" using woodblock printmaking, a technique that transformed image-making in 18th-century Japan. Harunobu's work is special because it uses many colors. Each color needs a separate block, carved with precision, inked, and then printed onto the paper in perfect alignment. Imagine the skill needed for this! Look at the way the subtle colors create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Woodblock printing was not just a technique, it was a whole system of production, involving artists, carvers, printers, and publishers. It brought art to a wider audience, reflecting the tastes and trends of a growing urban culture, where new forms of leisure and consumption were emerging. Harunobu elevates this process to high art through its extraordinary subtlety and refinement. By understanding these intricate processes, and the wider economic structures that underpinned them, we can appreciate the artistry of these prints.