Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Hello! I was hoping someone could identify this artist, and let me know if this is a poem/song written on the top. It appears to be a discarded Samurai Hakama and sword. Thank you in advance for your expertise!

Your Japanese woodblock print is by Kubo Shunman and was printed circa 1810. The MET has a copy at the link below.

Cheers,
Sstan

URL Title :Saddle and Harness

Thank you so much! I'm so in love with it!

Just a short comment.
Your version is probably a later reprint of the original from a newly cut block. The seal was cut incorrectly　俊門　Shunmon, not 俊満　Shunman as it is shown correctly on the Met Collection version.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Correct, this later reprint is so called de luxe 'Surimono A', made in the 1890s.

Guy.

I concur. There is no question that this is a later reprint from new blocks.

Cheers,
Stan

Later editions of surimono from newly carved blocks were produced from the 1890s on to early Showa period to meet the demand in Europe and the USA. Richard Lane in 'The Art of Surimono' distinguishes (1985) 3 types of copies: de luxe quality surimono of the type A issued on thick paper in the 1890s followed by surimono of the type B, C and D (lesser quality, late Meiji to early Showa period).

In the Appendix of volume II of The Art of Surimono, Richard Lane mentions no less than 215 copies (some surimono are only known as a copy). The Shunman surimono is listed as nr 159 (Saddle, stirrups and riding gear). Two originals, sealed Shunman are in the Harvard Art Museums (ex Fogg Art) and the MET. Known copies: copy A sealed Shummon, copy D sealed Shunmei, lacking emblem of bat at upper right.


Guy.

Erratum: the author of The Art of Surimono is of course Roger Keyes (Roger, please forgive me).

Guy.

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |