Parody of the Nō Play Hakurakuten (Two Figures Standing in Boats: Chinese Scholar Holding an Ink Orchid Painting and Japanese Girl Holding a Harunobu Bijin Pillar Print Scroll) c. 1769 - 1777

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums present this intriguing woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, dating from the 18th century, titled "Parody of the Nō Play Hakurakuten." Editor: It’s lovely; the muted colors create a very tranquil mood. The composition, with the two figures in separate boats, implies a quiet contemplation, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. This print cleverly reinterprets a classic Chinese tale through a contemporary lens, reflecting the Edo period's cultural fascinations and the flourishing print market. The artist is engaging with cultural appropriation through art. Editor: Note how Harunobu uses the lines of the water to unify the disparate elements and guide the eye, also how the patterns and textures on the robes contrast, but the similar poses draw the figures together. Curator: The clothing and scroll contents are intentional indicators. He’s signaling a shift in cultural authority from the Chinese scholar to the young Japanese woman, a sign of the times. Editor: A subtle but potent statement, elegantly rendered through color and composition. The very essence of ukiyo-e, the floating world.