『金襴緞子絵図』|Picture Book of Gold Brocades (Kinrandonsu ezu)

Art Historical Context

Step into the opulent world of Edo-period with *Picture Book of Gold Brocades (Kinrandonsu ezu)*, a delicate woodblock-printed book created in 1783 by an unknown artist. Produced during a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing (1615–1868), this compact volume—measuring just 7 7/8 × 5 3/16 inches—captures the splendor of kinran, luxurious gold-threaded brocades prized for kimonos, theater costumes, and elite furnishings. These textiles symbolized wealth and status, often blending Japanese craftsmanship with influences from Chinese silk trade. Woodblock printing, the book's medium of ink on paper, was revolutionary in Edo Japan, enabling affordable mass production of intricate designs. Artisans carved multiple blocks for layers of color and pattern (though this edition appears in ink), making high-fashion references accessible to merchants, dyers, and designers. Such illustrated books democratized luxury aesthetics, inspiring textile production amid strict sumptuary laws that regulated extravagance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department, this gift from Betty and Paul Nomura honors Nomura Shōjirō. It offers a window into Japan's vibrant print culture, where everyday paper became a canvas for shimmering dreams of gold.