Two Women Reclining on the Floor of a Room and Reading a Book

Art Historical Context

Created around 1730 during Japan’s Edo period, this monochrome woodblock print by Nishikawa Sukenobu captures two women reclining comfortably as they share a book. Sukenobu, a leading Kyoto-based artist, specialized in graceful depictions of women engaged in everyday activities, and his work helped shape the early ukiyo-e tradition. Printed in black ink on paper, the image reflects the refined tastes of the time, when woodblock prints made art accessible beyond the aristocracy. The scene highlights a growing culture of female literacy in urban Japan. As books became more widely available, reading offered women both entertainment and a quiet form of self-cultivation. Sukenobu’s gentle line work and balanced composition emphasize intimacy and calm concentration rather than dramatic action, inviting viewers to appreciate the simple pleasure of shared learning. Today the print resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of Japanese art, where it offers a window into the domestic world of the eighteenth century and the enduring appeal of quiet moments spent with books.

About the Artist

Nishikawa Sukenobu · 1671–1751

Japanese, 1671–1750