Various Shells with Sea Weeds
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 x 7 1/16 in. (20.3 x 17.9 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
JP2073
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *Various Shells with Seaeds* is a delicate 19th-century woodblock print from Edo period (16151868), capturing the intricate beauty of marine life in a compact 8 x 7 1/16-inch format. As a *surimono*—a luxurious, privately commissioned print often created for special occasions like New Year's poetry gatherings—this work exemplifies the refined artistry of ukiyo, the "pictures of the floating world" tradition. Shunman, a master of this genre, renders shells and swaying seaweeds with meticulous detail, using vibrant inks and colors on paper to evoke the ocean's quiet wonders. The ...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820