Wine Cups

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), *Wine Cups* is a woodblock print (surono) by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1831), a master poet and ukiyo-e renowned for his exquisite, small-scale commissions. Created with ink and color on paper this intimate 8 3/8 x 7 5/16 in. work captures a serene still life of elegantly arranged cups, evoking the refined pleasures of sake-sharing among literati circles. Surimono, meaning "printed things," were luxurious, privately produced prints often gifted for New Year's or poetry gatherings. Shinsai's piece exemplifies the technique's hallmarks: fine linework, subtle gradations of color (bokashi), and possibly metallic pigments or embossing for a tactile shimmer. These prints celebrated Japan's "floating world" of fleeting beauty, blending art with kyōka (witty poetry), though none is visible here—inviting viewers to imagine accompanying verses. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection (H. O. Havemeyer Collection, 1929), *Wine Cups* offers a window into elite Edo culture, where everyday objects like these cups symbolized harmony, hospitality, and artistic whimsy. A perfect gem for contemplating Japan's woodblock legacy!

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...