Artwork
Asazuma-bune|Courtesan in Ancient Costume Seated in a Boat
Asazuma-bune|Courtesan in Ancient Costume Seated in a Boat is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kubo Shunman. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Asazuma-bune|Courtesan in Ancient Costume Seated in a Boat is a mid-19th-century Japanese woodblock print by Kubo Shunman, dated to 1850. It is part of an album of surimono prints, characterized by ink and color on paper. The work is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print presents two vertically stacked scenes. Above, a serene boat scene depicts two figures rowing calmly, one sheltered by an umbrella. Below, a solitary courtesan, adorned in a traditional long robe and holding a fan, sits in a boat as a bamboo leaf is swept by the wind, evoking a sense of elegance and tranquility.
Technique & Style
Kubo Shunman employed bold outlines and flat coloration to achieve clarity in narrative. Notably, the composition eschews intricate shading techniques (such as cross-hatching) in favor of simplicity, emphasizing the subjects' forms against the serene backgrounds.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, this surimono print was designed as a special edition, indicated by its distinctive border and accompanying text. Its current location is The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Context
As a surimono, this print was likely produced in limited quantities for distribution among connoisseurs or as part of a special album, reflecting the artist's engagement with exclusive, nuanced themes for a discerning audience.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of 'Asazuma-bune|Courtesan in Ancient Costume Seated in a Boat' are not extensively documented, it contributes to the broader appreciation of Kubo Shunman's oeuvre and the surimono tradition within Japanese woodblock printing history.
Artist & collection
