UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

Surimono were privately published and emerged during the 18th century in two main forms; as an announcement of a special event; and as prints individually commissioned by poetry groups to serve as a vehicle for illustrating their poems. They share two features which differ from the commercial single sheet prints of the period. Their text was of equal importance to the illustration, and because the prints were privately commissioned, they do not have censorship seals and publisher’s marks. Surimono reached their apogee during the first third of the 19th century. The kakuban, or square format, became popular and many ukiyo-e artists were commissioned to design them. Two major groups of artists dominated production: Hokusai and his school, specializing in still life, landscape and illustrations of Japanese and Chinese legends; and the Utagawa school.