Surimono - Surimono are an exclusive subcategory of Japanese woodblock prints. Poetry clubs commissioned these designs for distribution to a small audience of members, most often as New Year's greetings. These privately published images included a wonderful range of subjects and lavish printing techniques such as embossing, burnishing, and metallic pigments. Since surimono were not sold commercially, the print runs were very small and original Edo era surimono are incredibly rare in the market today. Many high-quality reprints of these great designs were published during the Meiji era.

A Special 1931 Group - These lovely prints come from a series of fifty classic surimono designs reprinted by the publisher Daito in 1931. Like the originals, many include deluxe embellishments, like embossing and metallic pigments. These fascinating and beautifully printed images continue to delight collectors today.

Comments - Dramatic surimono design of a blossoming cherry tree in front of a large red setting sun. The branches are rendered with bold calligraphic strokes, a nice contrast to the more delicate flowers, which featured embossed centers. An attractive image with soft bokashi shading in the sun.

Artist - Hokusai (1760 - 1849)

Image Size - 8 1/2" x 7 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Slight paper remnants or thinning on reverse at edges from previous folio mounting. Light toning. Most prints have slight soiling or a few small spots, a few have slight creasing near edges. Please see photos for a sense of individual condition. Generally in good condition overall.