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.

Comments - Lovely surimono design of Heian era beauties picking pine shoots at the New Year. One woman pulls a sprig as the other waits with a tray to hold it. Inside the palace at left, a nobleman watches as a beauty writes on a sheet of paper. Clouds detailed with metallic pigment that has oxidized to a dark tone frame the scene.

Artist - Edo era artist (unsigned)

Image Size - 8 1/4" x 7 3/8"

Condition - This print with good detail as shown. Backed with paper. A couple creases. Please see photos for details.