Flautist from The Cave Door of Spring
Medium
fifth from a pentaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
18.8 × 21.4 cm
Classification
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of James Parmelee
Accession Number
1940.990.5
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
These elegant surimono prints come from a set of five images inspired by the legend of the Shinto Supreme Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. She was once so offended by her brother that she retreated into a cave, leaving the earth in darkness. Several attempts to lure her out with cocks crowing, music-making, and a goddess dancing failed, but a mirror hung from a nearby tree made Amaterasu curious, bringing her to the entrance of the cave. A stone was quickly placed at the entrance to block her way back in...