Green Peas in a Measure and Sprays of Hollyhock with Heads of Sardines; Symbols Representing the Ceremony of Exorcising Demons 1800 - 1820

This print was made by Kubo Shunman in Japan, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Shunman worked with woodblock printmaking, a technique that lent itself to mass production and wide circulation, and he came to specialize in *surimono*, or privately commissioned prints, often connected to poetic societies. Here, we see a collection of items related to the Setsubun festival. In Japanese culture, this seasonal holiday marks the day before the beginning of spring in the lunar calendar. Traditionally, it involves rituals to cleanse away the previous year’s bad fortune and evil spirits, replacing them with good luck for the year ahead. Green peas in a measure are displayed at the top, while below we see sprays of hollyhock with heads of sardines. All three are used in the ceremony of exorcising demons. Considering these cultural references provides a window into the beliefs and practices of the time. Understanding the social context of art such as this requires research into the cultural practices and belief systems that informed its creation.