117

About this artwork

Gift of L.J. Boddaert, Delft

Art Historical Context

Shibata Zeshin (1807–1891), one of Japan's most innovative artists of the late Edo and early Meiji periods, *117* around 1880–1890. A master of lacquerware often mimicked painting and print techniques in his shikki-e (lacquer pictures), Zeshin occasionally ventured into woodblock printing. This small-scale color woodcut (223 × 287 mm) reflects the ukiyo-e tradition's enduring appeal during Japan's Meiji era, a time of rapid modernization and cultural exchange with the West. The medium of color woodcut highlights the collaborative artistry of Japanese printmaking, where carvers, printers, and ...

About the Artist

Shibata Zeshin · 1807–1891

Japanese, 1807–1891