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Lovers Walking in the Snow (Crow and Heron)

1764–72
Not on view
Of all ukiyo-e prints of lovers, this one creates the most romantic and melancholic mood. Harunobu emphasizes the intimacy of two lovers strolling in the snow, even suggesting perhaps a michiyuki, a path to a love suicide. The couple walk together in the quietly falling snow, in what is known as an ai ai gasa pose, literally, the sharing of an umbrella and love.

Harunobu, the originator of the polychrome print, or nishiki-e, shows his mastery of color, rendering the couple's robes in paired black and white, characterized as "crow and heron." In contrast to the plain colors, he decorates both the inner robe and the obi of each figure with elaborate polychrome patterns. Embossing brings out the soft, flaky texture of the snow and the patterns of the woman's kimono and hood. This print is an early impression of this design, which was re-engraved, with slight changes, during Harunobu's lifetime or shortly afterward.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Lovers Walking in the Snow (Crow and Heron)
  • Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 1764–72
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, with embossing (karazuri)
  • Dimensions: H. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); W. 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm)
    medium-size print (chu-ban)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
  • Object Number: JP2453
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Young Lovers Walking Together under an Umbrella in a Snow Storm (Crow and Heron), Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Young Lovers Walking Together under an Umbrella in a Snow Storm (Crow and Heron)
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1769
First Leaf of the Shunga; The Delightful Love Adventures of Maneyemon, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
First Leaf of the Shunga; The Delightful Love Adventures of Maneyemon
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1769
Gentleman Taking Leave of His Lady on a Veranda, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Gentleman Taking Leave of His Lady on a Veranda
Suzuki Harunobu
Yozei no In, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Yozei no In
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1766
The Curtain Clam, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
The Curtain Clam
Suzuki Harunobu

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