Poem by Ono no Komachi c. 1767

Suzuki Harunobu created this polychrome woodblock print, Poem by Ono no Komachi, sometime before his death in 1770. A serene scene unfolds before us, dominated by cool greens and soft pastels, punctuated by the vibrant red of the table. This immediately evokes a sense of calm and introspection. The composition divides into distinct zones: the natural world of the pond, with its organic forms and flowing lines, contrasting against the structured, geometric shapes of the table and the woman's kimono. The poem inscribed above floats almost cloud-like, drawing a parallel between the transience of language and nature. The woman acts as a bridge between these realms, her gesture toward the water implying a deep connection to the poem’s themes. The artist uses a semiotic system to deepen the cultural narrative within the work, where the water can represent emotions, and the chessboard motifs are reminiscent of power and control. The work thus functions as a visual poem, inviting viewers to contemplate the interplay between nature, culture, and individual identity. This print not only captures a moment of beauty, but also embodies a complex interplay of signs and meanings, continuously reinterpreted across time.