鈴木春信画「風俗四季歌仙　立春」|The First Day of Spring (Risshun), from the series Fashionable Poetic Immortals of the Four Seasons (Fūzoku shiki Kasen)

Art Historical Context

Suzuki Harunobu's *The First Day of Spring (Risshun)*, from the series *able Poetic Immort of the Four Seasons* (ca. 1768), captures the elegance of Edo-period Japan through a delicate woodblock print. This work, measuring just 11 x 8¼ inches, depicts graceful women amid budding trees, evoking the poetic spirit of spring's arrival. Harunobu, a master of ukiyo—the "pictures of the floating world" celebrating everyday beauty—pioneered full-color nishiki-e prints, layering vibrant inks to achieve unprecedented depth and realism. Created during Japan's vibrant Edo period (1615–1868), the print reflects the era's fascination with fashion, nature, and classical poetry. The "poetic immortals" (kasen) series reimagines timeless literary figures as stylish courtesans or beauties, blending high culture with urban sophistication. Harunobu's innovative techniques, like precise color registration and subtle gradations, brought woodblock printing to new artistic heights, influencing generations of printmakers. This charming piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, invites viewers to savor the fleeting beauty of spring—much like the cherry blossoms it likely alludes to—offering a window into 18th-century Japan's refined worldview.

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...