Illustrated book
Unknown Artist
1893
Medium
Ink on paper
Dimensions
10 3/4 × 7 1/8 × 3/8 in. (27.3 × 18.1 × 1 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1959
Accession Number
JIB174.12
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Meiji-era Japan with this *Illustrated book* from 1893, a delicate treasure in ink on paper measuring 10¾ × 7⅛ × ⅜ inches. Created during the Meiji period (1868–1912), a transformative time when Japan rapidly modernized while embracing Western influences, this work exemplifies the era's dynamic print culture. Illustrated books like this one proliferated as literacy rose and new genres—such as novels, travelogues, and magazines—blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with emerging global styles. The medium of ink on paper highlights masterful Japanese techniques,...