Belt and Fan on a Piece of Cloth

Art Historical Context

In the serene world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Kubo Shunman everyday elegance in *Belt and Fan on Piece of Cloth*, a woodblock print known as a *surimono*. This format, measuring just 5 9/16 x 7 1/8 inches, features ink and color on paper, showcasing a belt (likely an *obi*) and a fan artfully arranged on draped fabric. Shunman, a versatile ukiyo-e and poet active in the late 18th to early 19th century, excelled in these private commissions, blending meticulous detail with poetic subtlety. *Surimono* prints were luxurious, limited-edition works produced for elite poetry gatherings or New Year's celebrations, often featuring embossed textures, metallic pigments, and custom poems—elevating them beyond mass-market ukiyo-e. Shunman's composition highlights the tactile beauty of textiles and accessories, symbols of refined taste and seasonal leisure in urban Japanese culture, where fans evoked summer breezes and belts secured elegant kimonos. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H.O. Havemeyer Collection, this piece exemplifies the technical mastery of woodblock printing, where carvers and printers achieved vibrant colors and subtle gradients. It invites visitors to appreciate the artistry in the ordinary, a hallmark of Edo Japan's floating world.

About the Artist

Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820

Japanese, 1757–1820