Catching Fireflies
About 1767
Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木 春信 Japanese, 1725 (?)-1770
Japan
Suzuki Harunobu made this print depicting two people catching fireflies during the early years of full-color printing. Here the night appears as a flat black, and the fireflies have no glow. Instead of atmospheric effects, the image focuses on the complicated and elegant design of the colorful clothing worn by the young man and woman.
Color woodblock print; chūban