Japanese Woodblock 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.

Scene from the Soga Brothers Surimono, circa 1822 - Handsome surimono featuring kabuki actors in roles from a play about the famous Soga Brothers. At left, Iwai Kumesaburo II plays a beauty kneeling at the side of Sogo Goro, played by Onoe Kikugoro III. She seems distressed, turning her head away with a dismayed expression. She wears a black outer kimono and a red under robe, both patterned with cranes. Goro holds his armor in one hand, staring down at her with a scowl. He wears a blue kimono with his trademark butterfly print, and grips the scabbard of one sword in his other hand. Includes touches of silver mica. Great expressive figures, nicely detailed.

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 8" x 7" + backing sheet as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Mounted to backing sheet. Slight toning and soiling, faint stains at bottom edge. Pencil notations at bottom edge. Please see photos for details. Good overall.