Drie heilige schatten voor de Sugawararen dichtersvereniging

About this artwork

Legaat van J.A. Bierens de Haan, Amsterdam

Art Historical Context

This exquisite woodblock print by Utagawa Sadakage, created around 1830–1835, exemplifies the refined artistry of late Edo-period Japan. As a member of the prominent Utagawa school, Sadakage specialized in surimono—privately commissioned prints often produced for poetry circles. The title, “Three Sacred Treasures for the Sugawara Poets’ Association,” points to its connection with a literary group honoring the deified scholar Sugawara no Michizane, blending themes of poetry, reverence, and auspicious symbolism. The medium of nishikie, enhanced with metallic pigments and blind printing (embossi...