Sumirena: The Mistress of Yojiya (Yojiya musume, Sumirena), from the series "Beauties of the Floating World Compared to Flowers (Ukiyo bijin hana ni yosu)"

Art Historical Context

Suzuki Harunobu’s “Sumirena: The Mistress of Yojiya” belongs to his elegant series “Beauties of the Floating World Compared to Flowers,” created around 1768–69. In this charming chūban-sized woodblock print, a graceful young woman is portrayed as a living blossom, her poised figure and delicate features inviting viewers to appreciate both natural beauty and the refined allure of Edo-period courtesans. Harunobu was among the first artists to master full-color woodblock printing, known as nishiki-e, transforming what had been simpler prints into vibrant, multi-hued works. The modest 27.6 × 20.9 cm format made such images affordable and widely collected, allowing scenes from the “floating world” of theaters and pleasure quarters to enter ordinary homes. Today, this impression in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection exemplifies the playful yet sophisticated spirit of ukiyo-e, where poetry, fashion, and nature intertwine in a single, luminous sheet.

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...