Picture Books and Coin Purse
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
20.8 × 17.9 cm (8 1/4 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
37594
Art Historical Context
"Picture Books and Coin Pur" is a delightful color woodblock print created in 1824 by Utagawa (Ichiosai) Kunimitsu I, a skilled artist from the renowned Utagawa school of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"). intimate shikishiban surimono—measuring just 20.8 × 17.9 cm—captures everyday objects with exquisite detail, evoking the charm of Edo-period (1603–1868) Japan. The square format and luxurious production style mark it as a privately commissioned print, often made for New Year's greetings or poetic exchanges among the literati elite. Kunimitsu's work exemplifies ukiyo-e techniques, w...