Girl In the Form of a Divinity Beating a Drum

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Kubo Shunman’s *Girl in the Form of Divinity Beating a Drum captures a whimsical fusion of the divine and the playful. Created in the early 19th century, intimate woodblock print (surono) depicts a young transformed into a celestial figure, energetically drumming with vibrant energy. Shunman, a master of ukiyo-e—a "floating world" style celebrating everyday beauty and fantasy—was renowned for his poetic surimono, luxurious privately commissioned prints often exchanged as New Year’s greetings among literati. Measuring just 8 1/16 x 7 3/16 inches, the work’s delicate scale belies its technical brilliance: layers of ink and color on paper achieve luminous effects through precise woodblock carving and printing. Surimono like this one frequently featured embossing, mica, or gold accents (though not specified here), elevating them beyond mass-produced ukiyo-e into bespoke art objects. The drum and divine motif evoke Shinto rhythms and festival spirits, blending childlike innocence with mythological allure—a nod to Japan’s rich cultural tapestry of kami (deities) in human form. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art Department as part of the H. O. Havemeyer Collection (1929), this print invites visitors to ponder the Edo era’s love for ephemeral joys, where art bridged the mortal and the divine in harmonious beats.

About the Artist

Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820

Japanese, 1757–1820