Two Women Washing Their Hair

Art Historical Context

Suzuki Harunobu's *Two Women Washing Their Hair* (. 1767/68) is a delicate color woodblock print in the chuban format, measuring 28.3 × 21 cm. This intimate scene captures two women in a private moment of daily grooming, their flowing hair and gentle poses rendered with Harunobu's signature elegance. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts Asia department, it exemplifies the ukiyo-e tradition—the "pictures of the floating world"—that celebrated beauty, transience, and everyday pleasures in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868). Harunobu (1725–1770), a pioneering master of ukiyo-e, revolutionized printmaking around 1765 by introducing full-color nishiki-e (brocade pictures), layering multiple woodblocks inked with vibrant pigments for unprecedented depth and realism. Unlike earlier monochromatic prints, his works burst with subtle hues—soft pinks, blues, and greens—that evoke serenity and sensuality. The chuban size made these affordable luxuries accessible to a broader audience beyond elites. This print's cultural charm lies in its voyeuristic tenderness, offering a glimpse into women's domestic rituals amid Japan's urbanizing society. Harunobu's bijin-ga (beautiful women) style influenced generations, bridging art and popular culture, and remains a testament to woodblock printing's technical brilliance and emotional resonance.

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...