Tobacco Pouch and Pipe
1813
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
7 7/8 x 7 1/8 in. (20 x 18.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
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
JP1954
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman’s “Tobacco Pouch and Pipe,” created in1813 during Japan’s Edo period, is a refined example of surimono—a privately commissioned woodblock print intended for poetry circles and special occasions. Unlike commercial ukiyo-e prints, surimono were produced in limited numbers with exceptional care, often incorporating delicate color gradations, embossing, and metallic pigments on luxurious paper. This intimate still life captures the quiet elegance of everyday objects, reflecting the period’s appreciation for refined simplicity and the rituals of daily life. Tobacco had become a popula...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820