Surimono: Privately Published Japanese Prints

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Surimono: Privately Published Japanese Prints
Roger Keyes, curator
April 26, 1986–June 15, 1986
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, Tennessee

Surimono prints were often commissioned by poetry groups and designed both by leading ukiyo-e artists and by amateurs, to be given to friends as New Year's greetings and announcements of special events. In delightful essays on sixty prints, Roger Keynes, guest curator, draws upon his extensive familiarity with history and legends, language and literature, customs and culture, to reveal the fascination of a forgotten art. The catalogue of the exhibition includes a complete catalogue of the collection of prints at the Spencer Museum of Art (University of Kansas) with 60 color plates, 186 black and white reproductions, brief entries on 268 images and a comprehensive bibliography.

Surimono, the most elegant woodblock prints ever made, were sent as New Year's greetings in 19th century Japan. These were selected from the Museum's collection of 268 images.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Ebisu, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Ebisu, circa mid 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
sparrow on rose branch, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
sparrow on rose branch, late 1830 or early 1840s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Daikoku lifting a rice bale, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Daikoku lifting a rice bale, 1825, Edo period (1600–1868)
spring landscape, Hishikawa Sōri (active 1790–1810)
Hishikawa Sōri (active 1790–1810)
spring landscape, circa 1805, Edo period (1600–1868)
geisha with iris crown, Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787–1832)
Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787–1832)
geisha with iris crown, early 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
pony dancer, Suzuki Nanrei (1775–1844)
Suzuki Nanrei (1775–1844)
pony dancer, 1813, Edo period (1600–1868)
long-tailed turtles, Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762–1819)
Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762–1819)
long-tailed turtles, late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Niwatori Muko (The Rooster Bridegroom), Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Niwatori Muko (The Rooster Bridegroom), 1813, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Ebizō V (Danjūrō VII) as Matsunaga Daizen, Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844)
Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844)
Ryūhō hakuju o kiru (Liu Bang kills the white serpent), Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Miyuke, Nowake, Fujibakama (the royal outing, the typhoon, purple trousers), Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Kohōgi sōkōmei (Courtesan as the Opportune Rain), Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
Kohōgi sōkōmei (Courtesan as the Opportune Rain), circa 1800, Edo period (1600–1868)
Do (Earth), Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Do (Earth), 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ōiko and Fan Kuai, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Ōiko and Fan Kuai, 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
poet and plum tree, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
poet and plum tree, circa late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
actor Sawamura Tanosuke II as the courtesan Shiratama, Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
actor Sawamura Tanosuke II as the courtesan Shiratama, circa mid 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as a travelling pilgrim (see also 0000.1492), Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Kikujidō seated by a stream, Toyohisa II (active circa 1830)
Toyohisa II (active circa 1830)
Kikujidō seated by a stream, 1830, 9th month, Edo period (1600–1868)
Artame ne juni no tebako narabi ni kushi (casket and combs), Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
Kubo Shumman (1757–1820)
folded robe and crown, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
folded robe and crown, 1818, Edo period (1600–1868)
Iwai Hanshirō V seated by a brazier, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861)
Iwai Hanshirō V seated by a brazier, circa 1825–1835, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Ebizō V (Danjūrō VII), Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861)
Ichikawa Ebizō V (Danjūrō VII), mid 1830s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Nō (Ability), Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Nō (Ability), circa late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hōjō Tokiyori, Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Hōjō Tokiyori, circa 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Fuwa Banzaemon, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Fuwa Banzaemon, 1827, Edo period (1600–1868)
Benkei and Chinese princess, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Benkei and Chinese princess, 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Soga no Gorō, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Soga no Gorō, 1821 or 1822, Edo period (1600–1868)
Qingao riding a carp, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Qingao riding a carp, circa 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Muneyuki ga rōtō tora o utsu (Muneyuki's soldier slays a tiger), Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Muneyuki ga rōtō tora o utsu (Muneyuki's soldier slays a tiger), circa late 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
badger and rabbit, Kita Busei (1776–1856); Tatekawa Emba II (active early 1800s)
Kita Busei (1776–1856); Tatekawa Emba II (active early 1800s)
badger and rabbit, 1831, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hotei, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Hotei, circa mid 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Minister Hong bows to the heavenly teacher, Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837)
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837)
Minister Hong bows to the heavenly teacher, 1829, Edo period (1600–1868)
Microscope, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Microscope, circa 1800–1805, Edo period (1600–1868)
Nakamura Utaemon III in six roles, Asayama Ashikuni (circa 1775–1818); Nakamura Utaemon III (1778–1838)
Asayama Ashikuni (circa 1775–1818); Nakamura Utaemon III (1778–1838)
Nakamura Utaemon III in six roles, 1817, Edo period (1600–1868)
actors Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Bandō Zenji, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
actors Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Bandō Zenji, 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
street dancers, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
street dancers, 1811, Edo period (1600–1868)
still life
still life, 1821?, Edo period (1600–1868)
still life, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
still life, 1813, Edo period (1600–1868)
Segawa Kikunojō V as Yukihime, Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844)
Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844)
Segawa Kikunojō V as Yukihime, 1832, Edo period (1600–1868)
cranes in pine tree, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
cranes in pine tree, circa 1805, Edo period (1600–1868)
bolts of fabric, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
bolts of fabric, circa late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Tomoe Gozen and Xiang Yu, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Tomoe Gozen and Xiang Yu, 1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
courtesan, client, and entertainer, Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
courtesan, client, and entertainer, 1811, Edo period (1600–1868)
courtesan at window, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
courtesan at window, circa late 1790s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Yoki takimono takite hitori fushitaru (To burn fine incense and sleep alone), Teisai Hokuba (1771–1844)
Teisai Hokuba (1771–1844)
Ushiwaka and Sōjōbō, Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852)
Ushiwaka and Sōjōbō, 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kinutagai (The Pounding Block Shell), Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Kinutagai (The Pounding Block Shell), 1821, Edo period (1600–1868)
chrysanthemum display, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
chrysanthemum display, 1799, Edo period (1600–1868)
girl and boy with printed game board and Pekinese dog, Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Bandō Mitsugorō III, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Bandō Mitsugorō III, 1827, Edo period (1600–1868)
boys chasing a woman with sticks, Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
boys chasing a woman with sticks, 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
tortoise carrying rock symbolizing Mr. Hōrai, Nagayama Kōin (1765–1849)
Nagayama Kōin (1765–1849)
tortoise carrying rock symbolizing Mr. Hōrai, early 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
bird's eye view of the Sumida River, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764–1820)
bird's eye view of the Sumida River, circa late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
an ōtsu painting of a rat, Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848)
an ōtsu painting of a rat, 1828, Edo period (1600–1868)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Ichikawa Danjūrō VII and Segawa Kikunojō V, 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
Minister Hong bows to the Heavenly Teacher, Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837)
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837)
Minister Hong bows to the Heavenly Teacher, early 1890s, Edo period (1600–1868)
courtesans and attendants under a plum tree, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
courtesans and attendants under a plum tree, circa 1820s–1830s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kara monogatari (Stories of China), Yoshimi Shūri (active 1810s–1820s)
Yoshimi Shūri (active 1810s–1820s)
Kara monogatari (Stories of China), circa late 1810s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kami (Paper), Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Kami (Paper), 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
Segawa Kikunojō V drawing sword, Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)
Segawa Kikunojō V drawing sword, circa 1823, Edo period (1600–1868)
woman and child, Hishikawa Sōri (active 1790–1810)
Hishikawa Sōri (active 1790–1810)
woman and child, circa 1800–1805, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hikizome yoshi (A Good Day to Start Playing the Samisen), Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)
puppy with kite and ball, Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787–1832)
Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787–1832)
puppy with kite and ball, 1826, Edo period (1600–1868)