Japanese Woodblock Surimono - Surimono are an exclusive subcategory of Japanese wood block prints. They were privately commissioned works intended to be distributed to a small audience of friends, colleagues or like-minded members of a "poetry circle". The most common surimono style included an image and a poetry verse. Some surimono depict well-known stories from ancient legend and are fantastic individual works of art without any calligraphy. Because of the exclusive nature of surimono, and the fact that they were commissioned by wealthy individuals, the level of workmanship was excellent. The designs are stunning, and usually printed to the highest standards on expensive paper with fine pigments and embellishments. The carvers and printers were leaders in their fields. Since surimono were not sold to a commercial audience the print runs were very small and original surimono are incredibly rare in the market today.

The above detailed surimono "Beauty and Boy wit a Kite" was reprinted several times (cf. 1890s copy of 1820 design, MFA). There are reprints with different patterns on the kite, or with false signature and other alterations. The most striking difference concerns the two tablets at the entrance of the original surimono. All reprints and newcuts do not have this item.


Series - none


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Ôju Hokkei ga (応需北渓画), lower left


Publisher - no seal etc.


Image Size -  17.7 x 20.3 cm (7 1/2" x 8 1/4") overall


Condition - single sheet, nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Surimono;