Japanese Woodblock Prints in Miniature: The Genre of Surimono

With dozens of classic miniature Japanese woodblock prints and informative text, this Japanese art book is an essential for print collectors.

Of the many genres of ukio-e, perhaps the least known is that of the diminutive surimono produced by Utamaro, Kiyonaga, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and others. They were the small, relatively little-known woodblock prints of the Tokugawa era, produced in smaller numbers and better quality than the ukiyo-e prints as we know them today.

This beautifully illustrated book, a collector's item, is based on the author's private collection of more than sixty years. It is a unique introduction to the background and aesthetic appreciation of the rare and elegant art form. Included in the pages are notes on technique, terminology, surimono collecting and commissioning, as well as biographies of known surimono artists, and a detailed list of surimono catalogs and exhibitions. The text is supplemented by 33 color plates, Index Glossary, and Annotated Bibliography.