Peonies and Iris
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/4 x 7 3/8 in. (21 x 18.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP2308
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Peonies and Iris* Kubo Shunman, a gem from 19th-century Japan nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection. This intimate woodblock print, measuring just 8¼ x 7⅜ inches, forms part of a surimono album—a luxurious genre of privately commissioned prints often created for New Year's greetings or gatherings. Crafted with ink and vibrant color on paper, surimono like this one showcase the pinnacle of ukiyo-e, blending precise carving techniques with subtle gradients (bokashi) and metallic accents for a shimmering, tactile allure. In Japanese culture, peoni...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820