Surimono - Privately Issued Japanese Prints
67779
Calligraphy - Surimono
$200 - 2/18/2016
Surimono refers to privately issued Japanese prints, typically created for special occasions such as New Year greetings. These prints differ from commercially published ukiyo-e.
What are Surimono?
Surimono are privately commissioned Japanese prints, often created for special occasions such as New Year greetings. The term originates from the Japanese words suri, meaning printed, and mono, meaning thing, which together form surimono, or "the printed thing."
What Makes Surimono Different from Ukiyo-e?
Surimono differ from ukiyo-e because they were not created for commercial purposes. Artists focused entirely on fulfilling the commissioner’s preferences, resulting in prints of exceptional quality. Surimono often featured lavish use of gold and silver pigments, intricate embossing, and other luxurious details. The finest papers were selected for their production, making them deluxe Japanese prints.
Who Commissioned Surimono?
Surimono were primarily commissioned by wealthy individuals. Poets were also significant patrons, often commissioning surimono for distribution among members of their poetry clubs.
For Which Occasions?
Surimono were created for a variety of occasions, including New Year greetings, the Cherry Blossom season, special events, announcements, and gifts.
Which are the Typical Sizes for Surimono?
The typical size for Japanese surimono prints is shikishiban, a nearly square format measuring approximately 8 by 9 inches (20.5 by 23 cm).
Which Artists Made Surimono?
Most ukiyo-e artists created surimono. In the late 19th century, ukiyo-e printmaking was regarded more as a craft than a fine art, so artists rarely declined commissions in this genre. Notable contributors include Gakutei (1768–1868), Hokkei (1780–1850), Shinsai (1764–1820), and Hokusai (1760–1849).
When were Surimono Popular?
Surimono originated around 1760 and were produced until the end of the Edo period (1868). Their peak popularity was during the first half of the 19th century.
Which Themes Can be Found?
Surimono cover a wide range of themes, including lucky symbols, zodiacal animals, nature, historical events, and kabuki scenes. These prints frequently include extensive writings.
What Do the Writings on Surimono Mean?
The writings on surimono typically consist of short poems written in old Japanese characters. These texts can be difficult to interpret without specialized knowledge in historical Japanese writing.
What are Surimono Meiji A, B, C, D Copies?
In the 1890s, publishers reproduced early 19th-century surimono designs by artists such as Gakutei and Hokkei, issuing sets of 50 or 100 copies for sale to Western tourists in Japan. Although the quality of these reproductions is high, the paper used is not as soft as the hosho paper from the 1820s. The reproductions are categorized from A to D, with A being the highest quality and D the lowest. Today, A-copies are particularly prized by collectors, especially for designs where the originals no longer exist.
Surimono from our Archive
The woodblock prints shown here are from our archive of previously sold Japanese prints.
62949
Music Instruments on New Year's Day
$260 - 11/2/2014
89366
Ichikawa Danjuro as Evil Magician - Rare Surimono
$550 - 1/2/2022
85130
Dancing Monkey - Meiji A or B Copy Surimono
$400 - 9/20/2020
Author:
Dieter Wanczura, revised by AI
First Publication: 6/27/2001
Latest Update: 11/20/2024
Bibliography
- "Poetry & Image in Japanese Prints" by Charlotte von Rappard-Boon and Lee Bruschke-Johnson, Hotei Publishing, Leiden, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, ISBN 90-74822-34-7.
- "Egoyomi and Surimono" by Matthi Forrer, J.C. Gieben, Publisher, Uithoorn, 1979 Amsterdam, ISBN 90-70265 01 X.
Surimono are privately issued Japanese prints for occasions such as New Year greetings. Surimono are a bit different from commercially published ukiyo-e. Subscribe to the artelino youtube channel.
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Available in Current Auction
At least 1 art object(s) with a reference to surimono is/are available in the current auction. Click on image to see the catalog.