Is Ariwara Narihira under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

Order a hand made painting of Ariwara Narihira

On a spring evening, a young beauty leans on a sill to gaze at the moon, shining on cherry blossoms above a meandering stream. Beneath her on the veranda is a vase of red plum blossoms, whose scent must fill the air. She dangles her long pipe from one sleeve of a kosode decorated with fawn-spotted purple clouds and threeleaf arrowhead. A long obi of hexagonal diaper pattern with spider tie-dying hangs from her back. In the room behind her a two-panel folding screen painted with peonies and gold clouds bears the signature, “painted by Harunobu,” cleverly identifying the print’s artist. Above the young lady’s head a cloud-form cartouche contains an inscription that reveals the subject matter. One from a series of six prints entitled Fashionable Six Poetic Immortals, this print features a young woman who is an avatar of the emotions of ninthcentury courtier-poet Ariwara Narihira (825–880), known for his dashing looks and romantic exploits. The scene before us is a contemporary manifestation of one of his most famous waka poems: Tsuki ya aranuharu ya mukashi noharu naranwaga mi hitotsuha moto mi ni shiteThe moon is not the same.Is the spring the spring of old?Only this body of mine is the same body . . . In this verse, Narihira laments the changing of the seasons, and perhaps the absence of his love, feeling that he himself is the one lonely constant. According to David Waterhouse, this may be a later reprint using the original keyblock.

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Artist Biography

early life and influences

suzuki harunobu, a japanese designer of woodblock print art in the ukiyo-e style, was born in 1725. little is known about his early life, but it is believed he grew up in kyoto. his work shows evidence of influences from many artists, including torii kiyomitsu, ishikawa toyonobu, the kawamata school, and the kanō school. however, the strongest influence upon harunobu was the painter and printmaker nishikawa sukenobu, who may have been harunobu's direct teacher.

artistic career

harunobu began his career in the style of the torii school, creating many works that were skillful but not innovative. however, with his involvement with a group of literati samurai, he tackled new formats and styles. in 1764, harunobu was chosen to aid these samurai in their amateur efforts to create e-goyomi (calendars). these calendar prints would be the first nishiki-e (brocade prints), with harunobu experimenting with better woods for the woodblocks and using more expensive colors.

notable works and innovations

suzuki harunobu's "brocade prints" led to full-color production becoming standard, with ten or more blocks used to create each print.
his use of multiple separate woodblocks in the creation of a single image was an innovation that depended on using notches and wedges to hold the paper in place.
harunobu's prints were popular with the chōnin class, who had become wealthy enough to afford to decorate their homes with them.

legacy

suzuki harunobu's work was central to forming the west's perception of japanese art in the late 19th century. his influence can be seen in the landscapes of hokusai and hiroshige, which were popularized during the japonisme trend.