New Year’s Flower Arrangement
c. 1820s
Medium
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
21.2 × 19.3 cm (8 3/8 × 7 5/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23426
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Arts of Asia gallery, where we spotlight *New Year’s Flower Arrangement by Keisai Eisen a master of ukiyo-e from Japan's Edo period (c. 1820s). This intimate color woodblock print, measuring just 21.2 × 19.3 cm, the refined elegance of seasonal floral beauty, likely evoking the fresh hopes of the Japanese New Year. Printed in the luxurious *surimono* format—privately commissioned woodblock prints exchanged as poetic New Year's greetings—this *shikishiban* (square album leaf) showcases Eisen's skillful use of metallic pigments for a shimmering, opulent effect. These techniques, involving multiple carved woodblocks and precise hand-coloring, elevated surimono beyond everyday ukiyo-e, turning them into treasured keepsakes for poetry circles and elites. Eisen, renowned for his bijin-ga (images of beautiful women) and landscapes, brought a delicate lyricism to such works. Culturally, this piece reflects Edo Japan's vibrant print culture, where floral motifs symbolized renewal and prosperity. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, it invites us to appreciate how everyday traditions bloomed into high art through innovative craftsmanship.
About the Artist
Keisai Eisen · 1790–1848
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), born Ikeda Yoshinobu in Edo (modern Tokyo), emerged as one of the late Edo period's most prolific ukiyo-e masters. The son of the renowned calligrapher and Kanō-school painter Ikeda Shigeharu, Eisen was immersed in the arts from childhood. He apprenticed under Kanō Hakkeisai, adopting the art name "Keisai" in homage to his teacher, and later studied bijin-ga (images of be...