Lady with Fan Standing on Verandah

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate elegance of *Lady with Fan Standing on Verandah a captivating woodblock print (surimono) by Yashimaakutei, a master of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e. Created the Edo period (161–1868), this work measures just 8 3/8 x 7 7/16 inches, showcasing a graceful woman poised on a verandah, fan in hand, surrounded by lush trees. Gakutei, renowned for his poetic illustrations, infuses the scene with refined beauty, capturing the poise of everyday femininity amid nature's serenity. Surimono prints like this one were privately commissioned luxuries, often for New Year's greetings or poetry circles, distinguished by their exquisite detail, vibrant inks, and subtle colors on paper. Unlike mass-produced ukiyo-e, they feature fine lines, metallic accents, and embossing for a tactile richness, reflecting Edo Japan's thriving urban culture and appreciation for bijin-ga—images of beautiful women. The fan, a symbol of refinement and seasonal motifs, adds layers of cultural nuance, evoking leisure and subtle allure. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection, this gem highlights Japan's artistic innovation before modernization. Visitors, imagine holding such a treasure—its small scale invites close admiration of Gakutei's masterful balance of form and feeling.

About the Artist

Yashima Gakutei · 1786–1868

Yashima Gakutei (c. 1786–1868), born in Osaka as the illegitimate son of a Tokugawa shogunate samurai named Hirata, adopted the name from his mother's subsequent marriage into the Yashima clan. Little is documented about his early years beyond these familial ties, but he pursued artistic training under the esteemed ukiyo-e masters Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, absorbing their precision in ...