Flower-Vase of Horn and a Butterfly 1757 - 1820

Kubo Shunman created this print, “Flower-Vase of Horn and a Butterfly,” using ink and color on paper in Japan, sometime before his death in 1820. Shunman worked in the ukiyo-e style, associated with the urban culture of Edo, modern Tokyo. The ukiyo-e tradition, meaning “pictures of the floating world”, emerged in a period of economic growth, and was largely concerned with images of pleasure and leisure. This example suggests a more refined sensibility, with its elegant depiction of nature. The print includes calligraphy, a reminder of the importance of poetry and literature in Japanese culture. You will notice the seal of the collector in the corner, which is a reminder of the economic systems involved in art production. To understand this work better, we might research the literary references in the calligraphy, and investigate the history of print collecting in Japan. In doing so, we recognize that artworks carry meaning that is contingent on social and institutional context.