Halberd, Brocade Robe and Seal
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/8 x 7 3/8 in. (20.6 x 18.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
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
JP1960
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Asian Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we encounter *Halberd, Brocadee and Seal*, a 19th-century woodblock by Kubo Shunman. This intimate surimono—measuring just 8 1/8 x 7 3/8 inches—exemplifies Japan's ukiyo-e tradition, with a luxurious twist. Surimono were privately commissioned prints, often for New Year's greetings or poetry circles, featuringossed details, vibrant colors and mica accents for a shimmering effect. Shunman a poet and master printmaker of the late Edo period, crafted these gems with exquisite precision, blending everyday elegance with subt...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820