The Jewel River of Bush Clovers (Hagi no Tamagawa), from an untitled series of Six Jewel Rivers c. 1767

Suzuki Harunobu created this woodblock print called "The Jewel River of Bush Clovers" around 1768. The scene is dominated by soft, muted colors and delicate lines, evoking a sense of serene beauty and refined elegance, almost like a dream. Harunobu masterfully uses the visual elements of color and composition to evoke a particular mood. The flowing lines of the women's robes and the gentle curves of the river create a sense of movement, while the overall symmetry of the composition adds to the feeling of balance. The print is part of a larger cultural discourse where aesthetics and social status are intertwined. Harunobu’s work reflects a society where art was not just about representation but also about constructing and communicating complex social meanings, questioning conventional perspectives and engaging with innovative methods of expression.