| Synopsis: |
Suzuki Harunobu was a celebrated 18th century Japanese ukiyo-e artist who produced thousands of exquisite woodblock prints illustrating aspects of life and society in old Edo - today's Tokyo. His subjects extended from Kabuki actors and courtesans to landscapes, explicit eroticism and street scenes. Yet the subject at which he most excelled was bijin-ga or paintings of beautiful women. This book examines Harunobu's life and times and artistic achievements, as well as 100 full colour images of his most appealing and winsome bijin or beauties - with their lovers, at their everyday domestic chores, in the Yoshiwara brothel quarter, or just viewing nature. One hundred of the most beautiful and most compelling woodblock prints of bijin or 'beautiful women' from Suzuki Harunobu, master printmaker of 18th century Edo - today's Tokyo - together with essays on Harunobu's life and times, his artistic techniques and of course his 'beauties'. |