Suzuki Harunobu (1725-70) created multi-coloured prints called "nishikie" in the early years of the Meiwa era (1764-1779). He produced many nishikie as a designer for calender pictures called e-goyomi in which beautiful "Brocade" prints were found.
Harunobu was probably a student of Nishimura Shigenaga, who made pictures of women during the early period of ukiyoe development. Harunobu was also deeply influenced by Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1751), a Kamigata artist, and also by Jiu Ying, a Chinese artist. Harunobu's ukiyoe depicting misterious young men and women were greatly successful.