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.

During the 1890s, publishers reprinted some of the most popular designs by famous artists like Hokkei, Gakutei, Hokusai and others. In keeping with the surimono tradition, the Meiji printings were equally exquisite, printed with the finest inks and embellished with embossing, lacquered pigments, and other design features. In some cases, the original Edo era prints no longer exist, making the Meiji reprints the only record of these subjects. These fascinating and beautifully printed images continue to delight collectors today.

Comments - Lovely surimono design of a beauty adjusting her hairstyle, a shamisen set on the ground before her. She wears a flowing kimono which trails onto the floor around her. A small wooden chest holds a porcelain pot of flowers. Wonderful detail in this attractive print. According to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, this image is falsely attributed to Hokusai.

Artist - Shigenobu (1787 - 1832)

Image Size - 8 1/4" x 6 7/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Paper label with seal affixed to bottom corner on reverse. Light toning, slight soiling. A few prints have slight creasing. Please see photos for details. Good overall.