Straw Hat for Tavel and Toys of Windmills
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 7/16 x 7 1/2 in. (13.8 x 19.1 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
JP2276
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Straw Hat for Travel and Toys of Windmills by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai captures the whimsical charm of everyday Japanese life in a delicate 19th-century wood print. Created as part of a *surimono* album luxurious, privately commissioned format popular among Edo-period elites—this intimate work measures just 5 7/16 x 7 1/2 inches, perfect for personal appreciation. Shinsai, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, employs vibrant ink and color on paper evoke joy through simple motifs: a straw hat suited for journeys and playful windmill toys, symbols of childhood delight and seasonal festivals. Surimono ...
About the Artist
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai · 1799–1823
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎), active from 1799 to 1823, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker based in Edo (modern Tokyo), renowned for his mastery of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints produced for elite poetry circles and New Year's celebrations. He began his training under Tawaraya Sōri before becoming a student of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, from whom he recei...