寿司と酒|Sushi and New Year’s Sake

Art Historical Context

**Sushi and New Year’s Sake** by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, created around 1810, captures the festive spirit of Japan's Edo period (1615–8). This intimate woodblock print, or *surimono*, depicts sushi and sake in a New Year's context, evoking celebrations with seasonal foods and drinks that symbolized renewal and good fortune. Shinsai, a master of ukiyo-e, specialized in these luxurious, privately commissioned prints, often shared among poetry circles as elegant greetings. Printed in ink and color on paper in the compact *kokonotsugiriban* format (5¼ x 7¼ in.), the work showcases the precision of woodblock techniques, allowing vibrant hues and fine details to shine on a small scale. Surimono like this were prized for their refinement, sometimes enhanced with mica or embossing, making them collector's treasures rather than mass-produced images. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department from the H.O. Havemeyer Collection, this piece highlights everyday indulgences elevated to art, reflecting Edo Japan's vibrant urban culture where food and festivity intertwined with aesthetic beauty. A delightful glimpse into historical revelry! (198 words)

About the Artist

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai 柳々居辰斎 (Japanese) · 1799 –1823

Japanese, active ca. 1799–1823