Violets, Primroses and Other Spring Flowers

Art Historical Context

Kubo Shunman's *Violets, Primroses and Other Spring Flowers captures the delicate beauty of early blooms in a intimate woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). in the early 19th century, work is part of a surimono album—a luxurious genre of privately commissioned prints often exchanged as New Year's greetings among poets and elites. Shun, a versatile uki-e artist and kyō poet, excelled in these small-scale masterpieces, blending his literary flair with visual poetry to evoke seasonal renewal. Printed with ink and vibrant colors on paper, the piece measures just 8 1/8 x 7 3/8 inches, inviting close contemplation. Surimono like this one showcase advanced woodblock techniques, including precise carving for fine details in petals and leaves, and sometimes subtle embellishments like mica or embossing for a tactile shimmer—though here the focus is on nature's fresh elegance. Flowers symbolized ephemerality and joy in Japanese culture, making this a poignant reflection of spring's fleeting magic. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, thanks to the H. O. Havemeyer bequest of 1929, it offers visitors a window into Edo Japan's refined aesthetic world, where art and poetry intertwined to celebrate life's simple wonders.

About the Artist

Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820

Japanese, 1757–1820