Porseleinen kom en schaar

About this artwork

Legaat van J.A. Bierens de Haan, Amsterdam

Art Historical Context

**Porseleinen kom enaar (Porcelain Bowl and Sc)** *Shozo Ittei, 1820–1830* *Nishiki-e ( multicolored woodblock print), 207 × 186 mm* Step into the refined world of late Edo-period Japan with Shozo Ittei's delicate *nishiki-e* print, *Porseleinen kom en schaar*. This intimate still life captures a porcelain bowl and a pair of scissors in a harmonious composition, rendered with the vibrant precision of multicolored woodblock printing. *Nishiki-e*, meaning "brocade pictures," revolutionized Japanese art in the 18th and 19th centuries by layering up to 20 woodblocks for rich, jewel-like colors—affordable yet exquisite, bringing beauty to everyday homes. Created around 1820–1830, during the vibrant ukiyo-e era ("pictures of the floating world"), Ittei's work highlights mundane objects elevated to poetic elegance. The glossy porcelain bowl nods to East Asian trade influences, while the scissors evoke quiet domesticity. Though Shozo Ittei is less celebrated than masters like Hokusai, his technique exemplifies the genre's technical mastery and cultural snapshot of urban life. A cherished legacy from J.A. Bierens de Haan of Amsterdam, this print bridges Japanese artistry with European collections, reminding us how global exchanges preserved these treasures. Pause here to admire its subtle glow—art in simplicity!