Memorial Surimono
2nd month, 1883
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
58.2 × 44.5 cm (22 15/16 × 17 9/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43797
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This memorial print was created to commemorate the seven-year anniversary of Sasaki Chikuju, a little-known haiku poet from Osaka. Memorial prints such as this became common in the mid- to late 19th century because they served as a visually pleasing way for poets, public figures, and those with cultural interests to remember a departed friend or teacher. These prints became an extension of the memorial service, a way for distant people to honor the deceased in words; here 202 people wrote commem...
About the Artist
Shibata Zeshin · 1807–1891
Japanese, 1807–1891