The Poetess Ono no Komachi Possibly 1615 - 1868

Suzuki Harunobu made this woodblock print, The Poetess Ono no Komachi, sometime before his death in 1770. Its material presence is owed to a multi-step process. Artisans would have applied ink to carved woodblocks, layering colors onto paper to produce the final image. Consider how the flat, yet nuanced, tones of the print speak to the labor involved in the production process. The artist engages with a skilled tradition rooted in craft and fine art, in which the grain of the wood and the delicacy of the paper become essential to the artwork’s visual language. In Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, the beauty of the natural world is not just a visual theme, but is intrinsic to the materials and techniques employed. The print is more than just an image; it is an object imbued with cultural significance. By attending to materials, making, and context, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and skill involved.