Lobster on a Piece of Charcoal with Other New Year Decorations
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 x 6 13/16 in. (12.7 x 17.3 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
JP2229
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intimate world of 19th-century Japanese surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints often exchanged as New Year's greetings—Ryūryūkyo Shinsai crafted this delightful scene titled *Lobster on a of Charcoal with Other Year Decorations*. Measuring just 5 x 6 13/16 inches, this ink and color print on paper exemplifies the ukiyo-e tradition's, with its vibrant hues, delicate lines, and subtle textures achieved through precise carving and printing techniques reserved for elite patrons. The composition bursts with festive symbolism perfect for Oshōgatsu, Japan's New Year celeb...
About the Artist
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai · 1799–1823
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎), active from 1799 to 1823, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker based in Edo (modern Tokyo), renowned for his mastery of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints produced for elite poetry circles and New Year's celebrations. He began his training under Tawaraya Sōri before becoming a student of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, from whom he recei...