Bowl with Black Shells and Udo Plant
18th–19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 5/16 x 5 1/2 in. (21.1 x 14 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP2182
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate woodblock print, titledBowl with Black Shell and Udo Plant*, the quiet beauty of everyday Japanese fare from Japan's Edo period (16151868). Created by unidentified artist in the th–19th century it depicts a simple ceramic bowl brimming with glossy black shells—likely shellfish—and stalks of udo, a crisp mountain vegetable prized in Japanese cuisine for its subtle, asparagus-like flavor. Rendered in vibrant ink and color on paper the small format (just 8 5/16 x 5 1/2 inches) invites intimate contemplation, much like a personal gift or seasonal greeting. As a *surimono*, this prin...