胴乱印籠と懐中時計根付『春雨集』　摺物帖|Dōran (Square Leather Box Used as an Inrō) with a Watch as a NetsukeFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3

Art Historical Context

This exquisite woodblock print by Hokusen Taigaku dated around 1817, captures fascinating fusion of Japanese tradition and emerging Western novelty. Titled *Dōran (Square Box Used as an Inō) with a Watch a Netsuke* from *Spring Rain Collection*Harusame shū), volume 3, it depicts an inrō—a lacquered, multi-tiered box worn on a kimono sash for carrying small essentials—crafted here in a rare square leather *dōran* style. Suspended from it is a netsuke, the carved toggle that secures the cord, ingeniously reimagined as a pocket watch, highlighting early 19th-century Japan's curiosity with European imports via Dutch trade. As a *surimono* (luxury print from a private album), this ink-and-color-on-paper work exemplifies ukiyo-e artistry during the late Edo period. Hokusen specialized in such commissioned pieces, often for poetry circles, employing refined techniques like delicate shading (*suki-bori*) and vibrant pigments to evoke elegance and wit. The watch netsuke symbolizes cultural exchange, as these timepieces were rare luxuries among elites, blending samurai-era accessories with mechanical marvels. Measuring just 5 9/16 x 7 1/4 inches, this gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection invites us to ponder how art documented Japan's opening to the world, one intricate detail at a time.