Cabinet for the Toilet and Bed-Clothes
probably 1819
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/4 x 7 5/16 in. (21 x 18.6 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
JP2068
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of Edo-period Japan with *Cabinet for the Toilet and Bed-Clothes*, a delicate woodblock print (surimono) by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, likely created around 1819. This intimate work, measuring just 8¼ x 7⅜ inches, captures a beautifully crafted cabinet designed to store toiletries and bedding—a common yet elegantly rendered household item. Shinsai, a of ukiyo-e, showcases his skill in vibrant ink and color on paper, transforming everyday domestic life into art. Surimono prints like this one were luxurious commissions, often produced for private poetry gatherings or New Yea...
About the Artist
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai · 1799–1823
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎), active from 1799 to 1823, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker based in Edo (modern Tokyo), renowned for his mastery of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints produced for elite poetry circles and New Year's celebrations. He began his training under Tawaraya Sōri before becoming a student of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, from whom he recei...