Seiobo (Queen Mother of the West) and tortoise, from an untitled hexaptych depicting a pair of folding screens

Art Historical Context

This exquisite color woodblock print by Ryuryukyo Shai, created around 1825, Seiobo, the Queen Mother of the West, accompanied by a tortoise—a symbol of longevity and wisdom drawn from East Asian mythology. The work forms one sheet of an untitled hexaptych to evoke a pair of folding screens, viewers to imagine the full composition unfolding like a traditional Japanese byōbu. As a surimono—a privately commissioned print typically produced in limited editions for poetry circles or special occasions—this piece highlights the refined artistry of early 19th-century Japanese woodblock techniques. The shikishiban format, roughly square in shape, allowed for intimate, jewel-like detail, with vibrant pigments and precise carving that elevate the mythological subject beyond everyday ukiyo-e prints. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Asia collection, the print (measuring just 21.4 by 18.8 cm) exemplifies how such works blended literature, myth, and visual elegance for an elite audience during Japan’s late Edo period.