Courtesan and Customer at the Ibarakiya 1767 - 1768

"Courtesan and Customer at the Ibarakiya" is a woodblock print created by Suzuki Harunobu in 1767-1768. The print depicts a courtesan in a richly colored kimono standing at the entrance to a teahouse, while a customer, who is also dressed in colorful clothing, is exiting. This is a _chūban_ print, meaning it is a medium-sized format print, and it is housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Harunobu, known for his elegant style, popularized the use of delicate colors and lines, and the _bijin-ga_ genre which focused on beautiful women. This print is an example of his ability to capture the vibrant life of Edo-period Japan.