The Common Marigold and The Rajoman Flowers
early 19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
19.2 × 16 cm (7 9/16 × 6 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81779
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *The Common Marigold The Rajoman Flowers* a delicate color woodblock print from early 19th-century Japan, exemplifying the intimate art of *surimono*. Created during the late Edo period, when ukiyo-e prints captured the floating world's beauty, this small-scale work (19.2 × 16 cm) was likely commissioned for private enjoyment, perhaps by poetry enthusiasts. Shunman, a versatile artist and kyōka poet, specialized in these luxurious, limited-edition prints, often featuring seasonal motifs like vibrant flowers to evoke nature's fleeting elegance. Surimono differed from mass-produc...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820