Nishikawa Sukenobu (西川祐信)
Nishikawa Sukenobu (西川祐信) was a highly productive Japanese artist active across the late 17th and early 18th centuries, with his documented career spanning the period of 1603-1700. His body of work includes woodblock prints, paintings, and illustrated books, focusing heavily on genre scenes and the depiction of women.
Museum collections worldwide represent fifteen of his works, including ten prints, four paintings, and a single book. His contribution to the history of Japanese prints is evidenced by illustrated publications such as Picture Book: Flowers Yet to be Picked (Ehon Suetsumuhana).
Specific compositions held in institutions often focus on sophisticated portrayals of women in daily life or leisure, utilizing elegant line and detailed composition. Notable examples of his output include the print A Dancer, the grouping Three Courtesans Weaving Silk, and domestic scenes like Young Lady Taking a Lesson on the Shamisen and Two Girls Under Plum Tree.
The enduring significance of Nishikawa Sukenobu (西川祐信) prints and Nishikawa Sukenobu (西川祐信) paintings is underscored by their preservation in major North American institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. These museum-quality works remain essential primary sources for understanding the popular artistic output of the period.
