Passage 158 (Hyaku gojuhachi dan), from the series "Essays in Idleness for the Asakusa Group (Asakusagawa Tsurezuregusa)"
early 19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
21 × 18.6 cm (8 5/16 × 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81372
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *Passage 158 (Hyaku gojuhachi dan)* from the series *Essays in Idleness the Asakusa GroupAsakusagawa Tszuregusa)* is a delightful early 19th-century color woodblock print, capturing the playful spirit of Edo-period Japan. Created around 1810–1820, it reimagines passages from the 14th-century classic *Tsurezuregusa* (Essays in Idleness by Yoshida Kenkō, a meditative text on life's fleeting joys. Shunman a master ukiyo-e artist known for his witty surimono—luxury prints commissioned by poetry circles—localizes the essays to Asakusa, Tokyo's vibrant entertainment district, blending...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820