Early Spring

Art Historical Context

In this woodblock print, two women in richly patterned kimonos sit on a wooden veranda. One rests her hand near her cheek while gazing outward; the other leans forward with a sprig of greenery. A large ceramic vessel, slender bamboo stalks, and delicate flowering branches frame the scene against a pale background, with graceful lines of Japanese calligraphy filling the upper left. Soft washes of ink and color define the flowing robes and architectural details with delicate precision. Ryūryūkyo Shinsai created this surimono during Japan’s Edo period. Surimono were privately commissioned woodblock prints, often combining images with poetry, and were printed in limited numbers using refined techniques on fine paper. The artist’s lifespan is recorded as 1750–1835, placing the work within a time when such prints celebrated seasonal themes and elegant subjects. Titled *Early Spring*, the print belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection. It captures the refined aesthetic of its era through careful observation of costume, setting, and natural motifs.

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...