Stencil with Pattern of Flowing Water, Waterwheels and Embankment Baskets
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Paper reinforced with silk
Dimensions
20 1/2 x 14 3/4 in. (52.07 x 37.47 cm)
Classification
Stencils
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Clarence McKenzie Lewis, 1953
Accession Number
53.101.37
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Asian Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we encounter this exquisite 19th-century Japanese stencil from the Edo period (1615–1868). Titled *Stencil with Pattern of Flow Water, Waterwheels andbankment Baskets*, delicate work measures 20½ x 14¾ inches and is crafted from paper reinforced with silk—a clever technique that ensured durability for repeated use. The intricate design captures the rhythmic flow of water, turning waterwheels, and sturdy embankment baskets, evoking harmonious relationship with its waterways and agricultural ingenuity. Stencil-making, kn...