Two Girls Looking at a Monkey on a Leash - Suzuki Harunobu

A classic nishiki-e woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, featuring two elegantly dressed women observing a small monkey in a domestic setting.

This woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts two young women observing a small monkey tethered by a lead. 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 displays the characteristic slender, ethereal figures that define his approach to the bijin-ga genre, which focuses on the depiction of beautiful women. The composition is set within a domestic interior, indicated by the shoji screens and the tatami mat floor. The background features a subtle floral motif, which provides a sense of depth without relying on Western-style perspective. The figures are rendered with delicate, flowing lines, and their kimonos are decorated with patterns that reflect the fashion of the Edo period. The monkey, dressed in a small jacket, introduces a playful element to the scene, contrasting with the composed posture of the two women. Harunobu’s work is noted for its focus on mood and atmosphere rather than strict realism. The colour palette is balanced, utilising soft earth tones and muted reds that were achievable with the printing techniques of the time. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the carvers and printers who collaborated with Harunobu to produce these multi-coloured images. By capturing a quiet, everyday moment, the artist invites the viewer to observe the subtle interactions between the human subjects and their animal companion. The print remains a representative example of the mid-Edo period aesthetic, where the focus shifted towards the refined, daily lives of urban residents in Edo.