Various moths and butterflies
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
7 7/8 x 7 1/8 in. (20 x 18.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP2355
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kubo Shunman's *Various Moths and Butterflies* is a delicate 19th-century woodblock print (surimono), a luxurious format produced in small editions for private patrons, often to celebrate poetry or festivals. Measuring just 7⅞ x 7⅛ inches, this intimate ink and color on paper work captures an array of fluttering insects with exquisite precision, showcasing the artist's mastery of the ukiyo-e tradition in Japan's Edo period. Surimono like this one highlight the refined techniques of woodblock printing, where carvers and printers layered vibrant colors and subtle gradients to mimic nature's iri...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820