World Poetry Day
Today is World Poetry Day! Surimono poetry prints are among the finest examples of Japanese woodblock printmaking of the early 19th century. Consisting of witty poetry combined with related images, they were often designed by leading print artists and printed using the best materials and techniques available. This print depicts a pair of young lovers on a balcony. The delicate features and feminine dress indicate that the young man is a 'wakashu' - a young boy yet to go through the traditional Japanese coming-of-age ceremony. The poem in this print is a 17-syllable haiku, which translates to...'A young woman and a wakashu, their love budding like flowers of shaved bonito'. An unexpected reference, bonito describes shavings of dried fish commonly used in Japanese cooking. Translucent and pale in colour, they often look like delicate flower petals, unfurling as they come in contact with other ingredients. This domestic yet elegant allusion seems to capture the intimate mood perfectly. This surimono print is now thought to be attributed to the great Japanese designer Hokusai, c. 1790–1830.
