A Beauty Looking at the First Sunrise c. late 1790s

Chōki’s woodblock print, "A Beauty Looking at the First Sunrise," presents a scene bathed in subtle color gradations and dynamic lines. The composition is structured around the contrast between the dark, textured sky and the rhythmic waves of the sea. This division evokes a sense of contemplative serenity. The beauty’s figure is rendered with a delicate balance of curvilinear and straight lines, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her patterned kimono introduces a complex interplay of geometric forms that draw the eye across the surface. Chōki destabilizes the traditional portrait by placing the figure in a vast landscape, suggesting a dialogue between individual identity and the immensity of nature. Note the artist's use of ukiyo-e techniques, particularly the nuanced gradations of color in the sunrise and the meticulous detail in the patterns of the woman's robe. This focus reflects not just aesthetic preferences but also philosophical ideas about impermanence. In essence, the print offers a meditation on time, beauty, and our place within the cosmos.