Rolls of Cloth, Cotton and Yarn

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Ryūryūkyo Shinsai craftedRolls of Cloth, and Yarn*, a delicate 19th-century woodblock print known as a *surimono*. Measuring just 5 5/16 x 7 3/8 inches, this intimate work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection showcases Shinsai's mastery as a ukiyo-e artist and pupil of the famed Kitagawa Utamaro. *Surimono* were, privately commissioned prints, often produced for New Year's greetings or poetry gatherings, featuring superior inks, subtle colors, and sometimes embossing for tactile richness. The composition captures neatly arranged rolls of cloth, cotton, and yarn in a serene still life, highlighting everyday textiles central to Japanese life and commerce. Shinsai's precise lines and layered colors evoke the soft textures and folds of fabrics, transforming humble materials into poetic subjects. This reflects ukiyo-e's "floating world" ethos, celebrating beauty in the mundane amid urban prosperity. As part of the Asian Art department's prints, this piece offers a window into Edo craftsmanship, where woodblock techniques democratized art while elite *surimono* elevated it to connoisseurship. A charming reminder of Japan's textile heritage!

About the Artist

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai · 1799–1823

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎), active from 1799 to 1823, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker based in Edo (modern Tokyo), renowned for his mastery of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints produced for elite poetry circles and New Year's celebrations. He began his training under Tawaraya Sōri before becoming a student of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, from whom he recei...