Various Seaweed 19th century

This is "Various Seaweed," a woodblock print made by Kubo Shunman in Japan, likely sometime between 1780 and 1820. Japanese woodblock prints were commercial objects, part of a thriving urban culture catering to merchants and other commoners. Shunman was a member of a poetry circle, and this print is a *surimono*, a privately commissioned print, often for special occasions, pairing an image with a poem. The image is a naturalistic depiction of different types of seaweed. What might seem like a simple still life was, in fact, a subtle commentary on the social structures of its time. *Surimono* prints like this reflected the values of their patrons. They represented a fusion of art and literature, tradition, and commerce. To understand Shunman's world, we would need to consult not only art historical sources but also social histories of Japan, and literary studies of Japanese poetry. This artwork and others like it offer us a window into the complex interplay of art, culture, and society in Edo-period Japan.