Shakuhachi (A Kind of Bamboo Flute) and Its Cover
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 5/16 x 7 5/16 in. (13.5 x 18.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
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
JP2174
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the delicate world of 19th-century Japanese art, Sunayama Gose *Shakuhachi (A Kind of Bamboo Flute and Its Cover* stands as a charming example of *surimono*, a woodblock print commissioned for intimate occasions like New Year's greetings or poetry gatherings. Unlike mass-produced *ukiyo-e* prints, *surimono* were luxurious, small-format works—here, just 5 5/16 x 7 5/16 inches—featuring vibrant inks, metallic pigments, and embossing for a tactile elegance. Crafted with ink and color on paper, this piece captures the serene beauty of the shakuhachi, a five-holed bamboo flute revered in Japane...