Jurojin, from the series The Seven Gods of Good Fortune - Ishikawa Toyonobu

A refined benizuri-e woodblock print by Ishikawa Toyonobu, depicting figures associated with the deity Jurojin from the Seven Gods of Good Fortune series.

This woodblock print by Ishikawa Toyonobu belongs to the series Adesugata Shichifukujin, or The Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Toyonobu was a prominent figure in the mid-eighteenth-century Ukiyo-e movement, known for his work in the benizuri-e style. This technique involves the use of two or three colour blocks, typically rose-pink and green, applied to a monochrome base.

The composition depicts a scene associated with Jurojin, the deity of longevity. Rather than a literal representation of the god, the print features two women engaged in activities symbolic of his attributes. One woman holds a small tortoise, a creature representing long life in Japanese folklore, while the other sits beside a low table containing small figures of fish. The figures are rendered with the elongated, graceful proportions characteristic of Toyonobu's style during this period.

The print demonstrates the technical precision of the era, with fine black outlines defining the kimono patterns and facial features. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on the soft interaction between the paper tone and the applied pigments. The background is kept minimal, allowing the focus to remain on the interaction between the two figures and their symbolic objects. This work provides insight into the way Ukiyo-e artists reinterpreted traditional religious iconography through the lens of contemporary fashion and domestic life. The print is a representative example of the aesthetic values prevalent in Edo-period printmaking, where the depiction of beauty and auspicious symbols merged to create works for a growing urban audience.