Giving Daruma a Smoke

Art Historical Context

Suzuki Harunobu's *Giving Daruma a Smoke (1765) is a delightful color woodblock print from Japan's Edo period, exemplifying the ukiyo-e tradition of "pictures of the floating world." Measuring 27.6 × 19.2 cm in the chuban format—a popular smaller size for affordable, intimate viewing—this work captures Harunobu's as a pioneer of full-color nishiki-e. In 1765, he revolutionized woodblock printing by layering up to 10 colors from separate blocks, achieving vibrant hues and subtle gradients that brought scenes to life with unprecedented realism and charm. The print humorously depicts Daruma, the fierce, red-robed founder of Zen Buddhism, often shown in Japanese folklore with piercing eyes and a determined gaze. Here, a figure offers him a pipe, blending reverence with playful irreverence—a hallmark of ukiyo-e's worldly wit. Harunobu, renowned for his bijin-ga (images of beautiful women) and genre scenes, infused his works with poetic elegance and everyday joy, reflecting urban life in 18th-century Japan. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's cultural role as accessible art for the masses, bridging spirituality and satire. It invites visitors to ponder how art can humanize the divine with a puff of smoke.

About the Artist

Suzuki Harunobu · 1725–1770

Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1725-1770) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who revolutionized woodblock printing by developing nishiki-e—full-color prints using multiple woodblocks—in 1765. Before Harunobu, Japanese prints were limited to two or three colors; his innovation unleashed the entire artist's palette, transforming ukiyo-e into the vibrant art form that would later captivate Western artists from Manet...