An Inauspicious Day c. 1768 - 1769

Suzuki Harunobu created this woodblock print called An Inauspicious Day. Its narrow, vertical composition is immediately striking, dominated by a woman gazing upward, her form elongated and integrated into the atmospheric elements of wind and rain. The palette is restrained, mostly soft pinks and greens against a neutral ground, accentuating the delicate lines and patterns of the woman's kimono. The image's meaning emerges from its formal arrangement. The diagonal lines suggesting rain draw the eye upwards, leading to a smaller figure amidst swirling clouds. This juxtaposition creates a sense of instability and displacement, as if the everyday is disrupted by the supernatural. The woman’s gesture of reaching out becomes a poignant symbol of seeking balance. Consider how Harunobu uses the structural lines of rain and the woman’s dynamic pose to engage the viewer. The way the woman, ground, and rain are connected to the spiritual entity in the sky indicates an alignment between the mortal and the spiritual realms. This harmonious composition leaves us contemplating the transient nature of life and the unseen forces that shape our destinies.