Summer Robes (Natsugoromo), from the series "A Comparison of Incense (Takimono awase)"

Art Historical Context

Behold *Summer Robes (Natsugoromo)*, a delicate color woodblock print by Yanagawa Shigen II, created around 1822. This intimate shikishiban-format work—square and compact at just 21 × 18.2 cm—hails from the series *A Comparison of Inc (Takimono awase)*, a playful Edo-period tradition where poets matched evocative scents to seasonal themes through kyōka verse. Here, the "summer robes" evoke lightweight yukata garments, shimmering with cool elegance amid the humid Japanese summer. As a surimono, or privately commissioned print, it exemplifies the luxurious side of ukiyo-e artistry. Produced for elite poetry circles, these prints featured exquisite techniques like embossed patterns, metallic pigments, and vibrant colors from multiple woodblocks, far surpassing commercial editions. Shigenobu II, a skilled follower in the floating-world tradition, captured fleeting beauty with precise lines and subtle gradients, blending fashion, nature, and wit. This gem from the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection offers a window into 19th-century Japan's cultured leisure, where art intertwined with literary games. Visitors, imagine slipping into those airy robes—feel the artistry of everyday poetry alive on paper!