Tangerine and Chinese Legend
spring 1871
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
27.2 × 18.5 cm (10 3/4 × 7 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
42893
Art Historical Context
In the spring of 1871, Japanese artist Kosei created *Tangerine and Chinese*, a delicate color woodblock print known as a *surimono*. Measuring just 27.2 × 18.5 cm, this intimate format was typical of *surimono*, privately commissioned prints often produced for poetry gatherings, New Year's celebrations, or elite patrons. Unlike mass-produced ukiyo-e, *surimono* featured luxurious techniques like embossing, mica dusting, and vibrant pigments, making each one a treasured object of art and literature. The title evokes a poetic fusion of everyday beauty—a ripe tangerine, symbolizing spring's ren...