Print

Art Historical Context

This exquisite woodblock print, titled simply *Print*, is the work of Yashima Gakutei, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition active in Kyoto during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). around 1830, it exemplifies *surimono*—privately commissioned prints produced for elite patrons, often to celebrate New Year's or poetry gatherings. Unlike mass-produced ukiyo-e, surimono like this one, measuring just 7 3/4 x 7 1/8 inches, were crafted on fine paper with vibrant inks and colors, sometimes enhanced by subtle embossing or mica for a luxurious tactile quality. The composition captures a serene rural scene:...

About the Artist

Yashima Gakutei · 1786–1868

Yashima Gakutei (c. 1786–1868), born in Osaka as the illegitimate son of a Tokugawa shogunate samurai named Hirata, adopted the name from his mother's subsequent marriage into the Yashima clan. Little is documented about his early years beyond these familial ties, but he pursued artistic training under the esteemed ukiyo-e masters Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, absorbing their precision in ...