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 - Beautiful surimono design featuring the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII and a beauty watching a young boy doing calligraphy. The boy pauses with a brush in hand to look back at the woman, who is mixing ink on a stone for him. A container of brushes rests on the floor nearby. The actor watches at right, holding a folding fan with the misuji or three stripe motif used by the Ichikawa Danjuro line of actors. An exquisitely printed Meiji era reprint, beautifully detailed with embossing on the actor's black kimono and white pants, embossing on the beauty's white kimono color, an embossed floral pattern on the white area of the beauty's kimono, and accents of metallic gold pigment that have oxidized to a darker tone. The print includes these three verses:

Effortlessly, he takes
the staff of the brush
to do it in the Daishi-style,
revealing lovely ink tones
at the crack of dawn in spring.
--Rakuseian

As we face the household altar
worshipping the auspicious direction,
we hold a golden inkstick and a brush
preserving a thousand-year tradition
for the first writing of the year.
--Shakusoan

The actor's red makeup is brilliant
as the first sunrise of the year
shines over the Ichikawa stream
where a catfish is caught
by a fishing line tied to a kite.
--Bun'osha Naoki

Artist - Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight toning and soiling, stain at edge. Please see photos for details.