Gathering Sea-Weed
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
7 1/2 x 10 3/8 in. (19.1 x 26.4 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
JP2150
Tags
Art Historical Context
Katsushika Hokus (1760–1849), one of Japan's most celebrated ukiyo-e masters, created *Gathering Sea-Weed during the Edo period (1615–1868), a time when woodblock prints flourished as affordable yet exquisite art for the masses. This intimate surimono—a privately commissioned print often produced for special occasions like New Year's—measures just 7½ x 10⅜ inches, showcasing Hokusai's skill in capturing everyday life with vibrant inks and colors on paper. Surimono were prized for their deluxe techniques, such as subtle embossing or metallic accents, elevating them beyond standard commercial pr...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...