Plum-Seeing Month: Second Month - Isoda Koryūsai

A classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai depicting a seasonal scene from the 'Fashionable Twelve Months' series.

This woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai belongs to the series 'Fūryū Jūni-shi' (Fashionable Twelve Months). The work depicts a seasonal scene associated with the second month of the lunar calendar, traditionally linked to the viewing of plum blossoms. Koryūsai, a former samurai who transitioned into a prolific printmaker, was known for his mastery of the 'hashira-e' (pillar print) format, though this piece follows a standard vertical composition.

The scene features two figures in a rural setting, likely a pair of lovers or companions, positioned near a stream. The woman stands in the foreground, wearing a kimono decorated with a geometric hemp-leaf pattern and floral motifs. Her companion crouches by the water, holding a basket. The background shows a winding path and distant figures, rendered with the characteristic flat perspective of the Edo period. The colour palette relies on soft greens, muted earth tones, and a faded terracotta hue, typical of the pigments available during the mid-to-late eighteenth century.

Koryūsai was a contemporary of Harunobu and adopted many of the stylistic conventions of the period, including the slender, graceful figures and the integration of poetry into the composition. The calligraphy at the top of the print provides a literary context for the visual narrative, connecting the seasonal transition to human activity. The print demonstrates the artist's ability to balance human subjects with their environment, creating a sense of quiet observation. The lines are precise and controlled, typical of the high-quality carving and printing techniques employed by the publishers of the time. This work offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the Ukiyo-e tradition, where the passage of time and the beauty of nature were central themes in popular art.