Framed Painting, Small Stand with a Wine Cup and a Dish with a Fish

Art Historical Context

This exquisite woodblock print, titledFramed Painting, Small with a Wine Cup and Dish with a Fish*, was created by Ryūrykyo Shinsai, a master of surimono during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). Shinsai, active in the early 19th century, in these intimate, privately commissioned prints, which were more refined and colorful than standard ukiyo. Rendered in ink and color on paper, work measures just 7 1/16 x 6 11/16 inches, capturing a delicate still life: a small stand holding a wine cup and a dish of fish, ingeniously presented as if within a framed painting. Surimono like this one were often produced for special occasions, such as New Year's celebrations or poetry gatherings, showcasing advanced woodblock techniques like precise color registration, mica dusting for shimmer, and subtle embossing to mimic textures. The humble subjects—a fish symbolizing abundance and seasonal bounty in Japanese culture—elevate everyday elegance, reflecting Edo-era appreciation for wabi-sabi simplicity amid urban sophistication. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection, this print highlights Shinsai's poetic precision and the era's vibrant printmaking tradition.

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...