Objects Representing the Ceremony of Exorcising Demons, One of the New Year Performances
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
7 15/16 x 7 1/8 in. (20.2 x 18.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
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
JP2063
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the lively tradition of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Kubo Shunman's *Objects Representing the Ceremony of Exorc Demons, One of the Year Performances* captures spirited rituals that ushered in the New Year. Created in the 19th century this intimate woodblock print (surimono)—measuring just 7 15/16 x 7 1/8 inches—showcases ceremonial objects used in exorcism rites to banish evil spirits and ensure prosperity. Shunman, a master of uyo-e, infused the scene with meticulous detail, using ink and vibrant colors on paper to evoke the festive chaos of these communal performances. Surimono like thi...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820