Picture Book: Mount Asaka - Nishikawa Sukenobu

A woodblock print from the 1739 book Ehon Asakayama by Nishikawa Sukenobu, featuring elegant figures in traditional Japanese attire.

This woodblock print originates from the illustrated book titled Ehon Asakayama, or Picture Book: Mount Asaka, published in 1739. Nishikawa Sukenobu was a prolific artist based in Kyoto, known for his contributions to the development of the ehon, or picture book, format. His work often focused on the daily lives and fashions of women, providing a window into the aesthetic sensibilities of the mid-Edo period.

The composition displays three figures arranged across two pages. On the left, two women are depicted in conversation, their postures suggesting a relaxed social interaction. On the right, a single figure is shown wearing a head covering, perhaps indicating travel or a specific social role. The lines are clean and precise, characteristic of the woodblock printing techniques of the time. The artist employs a balanced approach to the figures, using the folds of the kimono to suggest movement and volume without relying on heavy shading.

Sukenobu was influential in the transition of Ukiyo-e from its early stages to a more refined style. His books were widely circulated and served as models for other artists, including those who would later define the genre in Edo. The paper shows the natural ageing typical of eighteenth-century Japanese prints, with a warm, aged tone that complements the black ink lines. This piece offers a clear example of the graphic clarity and stylistic economy that defined the Kyoto school of printmaking during the eighteenth century. It captures the grace of the subjects through simple, flowing contours and careful attention to the patterns of the garments.