Papier-Mache Fish and Various Vegetables
probably 1815
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 9/16 x 7 7/16 in. (14.1 x 18.9 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
JP2064
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Papier-Mâché Fish and Various Vegetables** by Takashima Chiharu, likely created around 1815, is a woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). This intimate *surimono*—a deluxe, privately commissioned print—measures just 5 9/16 x 7 7/16 inches and features rendered papier-mâché fish alongside carrots, eggplants, and flowers. Takashima, a specialist in such small-scale works, captures the textures of these everyday objects with vibrant inks and colors on paper, evoking a sense of playful abundance. Surimono like this were often produced for poetry societies or New Year's greetings, b...