Two Komuso c. 1768 - 1769

This print, “Two Komuso,” was created by Suzuki Harunobu in eighteenth-century Japan using woodblock printing, a technique known as ukiyo-e. The process begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry. The key lines are carved in relief, and then other blocks are made for each color, with the paper pressed against the blocks to transfer the image. This labor-intensive method allowed for the mass production of images, which were often of beautiful women or kabuki actors, meeting a rising demand from a new urban class. In this print, the delicate lines and soft colors create a scene of quiet intimacy. Harunobu was known for his mastery of this technique, elevating what was essentially a commercial process to the level of fine art. In doing so, the artist blurs the boundaries between craft and high art, reminding us that even the most seemingly simple images are the result of skilled labor, ingenious processes, and complex social contexts.