絵本徒然草|Picture Book of Essays in Idleness (Ehon tsurezuregusa) 絵本徒然草
Medium
Set of three woodblock printed books bound as one volume; ink on paper
Dimensions
10 5/8 × 7 1/2 in. (27 × 19 cm)
Classification
Illustrated Books
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013
Accession Number
2013.835
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Created in 1740 during Japan’s period, *Picture Book of Essays in Idleness* (*Ehon tsuregusa*) is a woodblock-printed adaptation of the 14th literary classic *Tsuregusa* by Yoshida Kenō. Artist Nishikawa Suken, celebrated for his graceful of everyday life and literary subjects, the meditative essays into an visual narrative. Bound as a single volume from original books, the work uses delicate ink lines on paper bring the text’s reflections on impermanence and beauty to life. Woodblock printing was revolutionary in the Edo period, allowing illustrated books to reach a broad audience beyond the elite. Sukenobu’s elegant style, rooted in the ukiyo-e tradition, made classical literature feel intimate and engaging for ordinary readers. This volume exemplifies how artists of the time blended high literary tradition with popular visual culture. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2013, the book remains a testament to the enduring appeal of Kenkō’s writings and Sukenobu’s skill in making timeless themes visually vivid. Its modest dimensions invite close viewing, revealing the quiet poetry of both text and image.
About the Artist
Nishikawa Sukenobu 西川祐信 (Japanese) · 1671 –1750
Japanese, 1671–1750