{"product_id":"courtesan-itsuhata-smoking-her-pipe-suzuki-harunobu","title":"Courtesan Itsuhata Smoking Her Pipe - Suzuki Harunobu","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic nishiki-e woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, depicting the courtesan Itsuhata in a moment of quiet repose with her pipe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuzuki Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single woodblock composition. This print depicts the courtesan Itsuhata in a moment of quiet repose. She is shown kneeling, holding a long-stemmed kiseru pipe to her lips, with a portable tobacco tray resting before her. The composition is characteristic of Harunobu's style, featuring slender, graceful figures with doll-like features and a delicate, refined posture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones of moss green, muted coral, and cream. The artist employs a flat spatial arrangement, typical of the period, where the figure is isolated against a neutral background. This focus on the subject allows the viewer to appreciate the subtle patterns on the kimono, specifically the geometric hemp-leaf motif on the lower hem. The inclusion of calligraphy in the upper left corner integrates text with the visual image, a common practice in Edo-period prints that links the visual art to the literary culture of the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarunobu's work often captured the fleeting nature of the pleasure quarters, focusing on the daily lives and fashions of the women who inhabited them. By using multiple woodblocks, he achieved a level of colour sophistication that was previously unavailable in Japanese printmaking. This print demonstrates his ability to balance negative space with decorative elements, creating a composition that is both balanced and visually clear. The print serves as a record of the aesthetic preferences of the mid-eighteenth century, reflecting the fashion and social customs of the Yoshiwara district. The fine lines of the woodcut define the contours of the figure and the folds of the fabric, demonstrating the technical precision required for such multi-block printing processes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-palace-in-the-moon-kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Palace in the Moon - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-actor-otani-tomoemon-in-the-role-of-ono-sadakuro-utagawa-toyokuni-i-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Actor Ōtani Tomoemon in the Role of Ono Sadakurō - Utagawa Toyokuni I — Utagawa Toyokuni I\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Suzuki Harunobu","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502173884751,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502192890191,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502192922959,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502192955727,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502192988495,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502193021263,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502193054031,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502193086799,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502193119567,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502193152335,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502193185103,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502193217871,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Courtesan-Itsuhata-Smoking-Her-Pipe_Poster_CompositorV1_1786421164962.jpg?v=1787012975","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/courtesan-itsuhata-smoking-her-pipe-suzuki-harunobu","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}