Cherry Blossoms and Seal-box with Ink and Ruler
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/4 x 7 3/8 in. (21 x 18.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
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
JP2303
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *Cherry Blossoms and Seal-box with Ink and Ruler is a delicate gem from a 19th-century album of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints popular in Japan during the Edo period. Created with ink and color on paper this intimate work measures just 8¼ x 7⅜ inches, showcasing the precision of ukiyo-e techniques in a compact format. Shunman, a versatile artist known for his poetic depictions of nature and everyday elegance, captures fleeting cherry blossoms cascading over a scholar's seal-box, inkstone, and ruler, evoking the refined world of literati culture. Surimono like this one were often produced for special occasions, such as New Year's greetings, featuring high-quality printing with subtle gradients (bokashi) and vibrant colors that highlight the blossoms' ephemeral beauty—a profound symbol of life's transience (mono no aware) in Japanese aesthetics. The inclusion of writing tools nods to the scholarly arts, blending nature's grace with intellectual pursuits. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department as part of the H.O. Havemeyer Collection, this print invites visitors to appreciate the artistry of Japan's floating world, where beauty and impermanence intertwine in exquisite harmony.
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820