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 - Terrific surimono print featuring a view of the entrance gate of the Yoshiwara at top and a circular inset featuring a courtesan and her kimono strolling through the boulevard. Behind them, a garden fence with an embossed basket weave pattern encloses a cherry tree covered with pink and white blossoms edged with embossed dots. Above, the black wooden gate is embossed along the edges of the planks, with the cherry trees in the distance also embossing. The gray background has a cherry blossom pattern, and the vertical text panel at right features embossed flowers. A beautifully detailed design we haven't run across before.

Artist - Gakutei (1786 - 1868)

Image Size - 8" x 7 1/4"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight paper remnants on reverse at top corners and bottom center from previous mounting. Slight toning and soiling, small stains along bottom edge. Please see photos for details. Good overall.