Two Figures and a Child or Women Meeting Child Held by Servant Girl

The artist of this work, Suzuki Harunobu, is often considered the father of nishiki-e or polychrome prints. Harunobu is known for his unique depiction of subjects. Frequently the figures are so small and delicate, they are easily mistaken for children. However the wide scope of his subject matter renders the limitation of his figures to exclusively children, impossible. In this 1760s woodblock two female figures assist a child in getting dressed and ready to play. The muted shades of red and blue accentuate the white and black details in the faces and written characters.