教訓註解絵本貝歌仙|Picture Book of Poems on Shells (Kyōkun chūkai ehon kai kasen) 教訓註解絵本貝歌仙
Medium
Set of three woodblock printed books; ink on paper
Dimensions
each: 8 7/8 × 6 5/16 in. (22.5 × 16 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
2013.837a–c
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In 1748, during Japan’s Edo period, Nishikawa Sukenobu created this elegant set of three woodblock-printed books titled *Picture Book of Poems Shells*. A leading Kyoto-based illustrator, Sukenobu was renowned for his graceful depictions of, customs, and literary themes. His work helped shape the popular illustrated book format that brought poetry and art into the homes of merchants and townspeople. Printed in ink on paper, each modest volume measures roughly 9 by 6 inches. Woodblock printing allowed Sukenobu’s delicate line work and inventive compositions to be reproduced affordably, turning classical poetry into an engaging visual experience. The title suggests a playful fusion of shell motifs with verse, likely offering moral commentary alongside charming scenes drawn from nature and daily life. Today preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the set captures the Edo period’s spirit of accessible creativity. It reminds viewers how artists like Sukenobu transformed simple themes into refined, widely shared treasures of Japanese culture.
About the Artist
Nishikawa Sukenobu 西川祐信 (Japanese) · 1671 –1750
Japanese, 1671–1750