Layers of Kikaku Poetry
8th month, 1885
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
57.5 × 43 cm (22 11/16 × 16 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43728
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This print represents a complex tribute to the great Japanese haiku poet Takarai Kikaku (1661–1707) and his descendants. Kikaku was a close follower and student of the poet Bashô (1644–1694) and started his own school of haiku poetry, which remained popular into the early 20th century. This print is hosted by a descendant of Kikaku, Kikakudo Eiki (1823–1904), whose poem is presented at the bottom left. The 175 inscriptions were made by cultural figures and others who may have been Kikakudo’s st...
About the Artist
Shibata Zeshin · 1807–1891
Japanese, 1807–1891