Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Courtesan on White Elephant - Suzuki Harunobu
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A delicate woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu featuring a courtesan riding a white elephant amidst clouds, rendered in the nishiki-e style.
This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a woman dressed in the attire of a high-ranking courtesan, seated atop a white elephant. The figure holds a scroll, a common motif in Japanese art that often references literary or religious themes. Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single composition. This work demonstrates his characteristic style, featuring slender, ethereal figures and a delicate use of line.
The elephant, an animal not native to Japan, appears in this context as a symbolic or mythological creature. It is surrounded by swirling clouds, suggesting a celestial or dreamlike setting. The artist employs a muted palette, relying on soft tones to define the robes and the animal's form. The composition is balanced, with the verticality of the figure offset by the horizontal presence of the elephant. The fine lines used to delineate the hair and the patterns on the kimono demonstrate the technical precision required for multi-block printing during the Edo period.
Harunobu's work often focused on the lives of women in the pleasure districts of Edo. By placing a courtesan in a scene typically reserved for deities or legendary figures, he creates a juxtaposition between the mundane world and the realm of myth. The print reflects the aesthetic preferences of the time, where grace and refinement were prioritised over realism. The paper texture remains visible, providing a tactile quality to the image. This print is a representative example of the mid-Edo period's artistic output, where the technical capabilities of woodblock printing reached a high level of sophistication.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Courtesan on White Elephant - Suzuki Harunobu
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Suzuki Harunobu
Suzuki Harunobu did not start his career with the full palette of colours for which he is now known. His early work consisted of simple two-colour prints and mizu-e, or water pictures, which used coloured key blocks instead of black to create a pale appearance. His transition occurred in 1765 when he collaborated with private poetry clubs to produce egoyomi, which were pictorial calendars. These commissions allowed him to use the expensive pigments and heavy paper that defined nishiki-e, or brocade pictures.
Harunobu moved away from the stiff portraits of kabuki actors common in his era. He preferred to depict young women in their daily lives, often using an elevated viewpoint to look into private spaces. His series Zashiki hakkei, or Eight Parlour Views, provides a clear example of his method. He took classical Chinese themes and reimagined them as domestic scenes. A temple bell might become a chiming clock. A distant storm is represented by a woman drying herself after a bath.
Modern collectors value these prints for their quiet atmosphere and precise compositions. Harunobu avoided the aggressive energy of later ukiyo-e artists. He chose instead to focus on slender figures and soft colour harmonies. His work captures specific moments of leisure, such as playing cat's cradle or walking by the shore. These scenes offer a calm window into eighteenth-century Japan. They remain popular because they balance historical detail with a clean, graphic sensibility that suits contemporary interiors.
Harunobu moved away from the stiff portraits of kabuki actors common in his era. He preferred to depict young women in their daily lives, often using an elevated viewpoint to look into private spaces. His series Zashiki hakkei, or Eight Parlour Views, provides a clear example of his method. He took classical Chinese themes and reimagined them as domestic scenes. A temple bell might become a chiming clock. A distant storm is represented by a woman drying herself after a bath.
Modern collectors value these prints for their quiet atmosphere and precise compositions. Harunobu avoided the aggressive energy of later ukiyo-e artists. He chose instead to focus on slender figures and soft colour harmonies. His work captures specific moments of leisure, such as playing cat's cradle or walking by the shore. These scenes offer a calm window into eighteenth-century Japan. They remain popular because they balance historical detail with a clean, graphic sensibility that suits contemporary interiors.
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £45
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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