Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 2: Cut Flowers: Clematis, Bush Clover, Iris, Camellia, and Azalea 1815

Kubo Shunman created this print, “Cut Flowers: Clematis, Bush Clover, Iris, Camellia, and Azalea,” using woodblock printmaking techniques, during the Edo period in Japan. It was a time of economic growth and relative peace, but also strict social order and isolationist policies. Shunman’s work is a window into the cultural values and artistic conventions of his time. The selection and arrangement of flowers were not arbitrary; each bloom carries symbolic meanings rooted in Japanese aesthetics. Note how the flowers are not presented in a naturalistic setting but arranged as “cut flowers.” This suggests a deliberate act of curation, reflecting the artist's intention to create an idealized and harmonious composition. While seemingly decorative, images like this one served as a means of expressing social status, cultural refinement, and personal identity for both the artist and the intended audience. The inscriptions, or poems, written on the print invite viewers into a contemplative space, encouraging them to reflect on themes of beauty, transience, and the passage of time. Here the emphasis is on an emotional connection to nature and a celebration of the ephemeral beauty of life.