Various Moths and Butterflies
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
7 13/16 x 7 1/8 in. (19.8 x 18.1 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
JP2358
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *Various Moths and Butterflies*, a delicate 19th-century woodblock print from Japan, captures the ephemeral beauty of these winged insects in exquisite detail. Part of a luxurious surimono album—privately commissioned prints often exchanged as New Year's greetings—this small square format (about 8 x 7 inches) showcases Shunman's mastery within the ukiyo-e tradition, blending realism with poetic elegance. The ink and color on paper evoke the fluttering grace of butterflies and the subtle textures of moths, inviting viewers to marvel at nature's intricate designs. Surimono like t...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820