Evening Chime of the Clock (Tokei no banshō), from the series “Eight Parlor Views” (Zashiki hakkei) 1756 - 1776

Suzuki Harunobu crafted this medium-size print, "Evening Chime of the Clock," capturing a scene of quiet domesticity. Dominating the composition is the clock, a relatively new import from the West, symbolizing the encroachment of measured time into traditional Japanese life. Notice how the artist juxtaposes the modern clock with the traditional motifs of interior design. The bamboo shades hint at the natural world, but is cut-off in its display. The vines growing onto the veranda create a sense of melancholy, their leaves often associated with transience. Such symbols have roots stretching back through centuries of Japanese art and literature. We see echoes of the past in the here and now. The clock, however, is a symbol of disruption. Before the Western influence, time was marked by seasons. Now, the rhythmic ticking imposes a different order, subtly altering our perception of the day. This imposition evokes a sense of tension, the old ways yielding to the new. It is a potent image, capturing the anxieties of a society in transition, where the past and future converge.