A Beauty Looking at the First Sunrise by Chōki

A Beauty Looking at the First Sunrise c. late 1790s

print

toned paper

childish illustration

pastel soft colours

muted colour palette

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

wedding around the world

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

cartoon carciture

watercolor

This woodblock print titled *A Beauty Looking at the First Sunrise*, created by Chōki in the late 1790s, depicts a woman gazing at the rising sun over a body of water. The woman's elegant kimono and the intricate details of the scenery showcase the artist's skill in capturing the beauty of everyday life in Japan. The composition is balanced, with the woman's figure in the foreground and the vast, open sky in the background, creating a sense of tranquility. The print's rich colors and delicate lines offer a glimpse into the artistic trends of Edo-period Japan. The work, currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to the enduring appeal of Japanese ukiyo-e art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Along with book illustrations and some actor prints, Chōki designed many prints of women, including some impressive half-length portraits. This composition, one of his most accomplished productions, is from a four-panel series of beautiful women, commonly known as Shiki no bijin (Beauties in Four Seasons). The woman is enjoying the sunrise on New Year’s Day, the occasion that marked the coming of spring in the lunar calendar. The first sunrise was considered sacred, and people got up early to pray to the sun for health and happiness during the year. A stone washbasin (chōzubachi) in the foreground suggests that this woman has performed ritual ablutions in preparation for her prayers. The potted plant with yellow flowers by the basin is fukujusō (literally, “plant of fortune and longevity”), cultivated to bloom at New Year’s.