Still Life with Goat Figurine - Fine Art Print

A refined Japanese surimono woodblock print featuring a goat figurine, a folding screen, and a decorative box, accompanied by elegant calligraphy.

This woodblock print belongs to the genre of surimono, a form of privately commissioned, limited-edition print popular in Japan during the Edo period. Unlike commercial prints intended for mass distribution, surimono were produced for poetry circles and connoisseurs, often featuring high-quality paper, metallic pigments, and refined printing techniques.

The composition presents a curated arrangement of objects, including a small red-lacquered stand supporting a goat figurine, a patterned folding screen, and a lidded box decorated with rabbit motifs. A camellia plant sits near the base of the stand, providing a natural element to the otherwise artificial collection of items. The inclusion of calligraphic text suggests this work was created to accompany a poem or commemorate a specific social gathering within a literary group.

The artist employs a flat perspective, typical of the period, which allows the viewer to focus on the individual textures and patterns of the objects. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted earth tones and subtle reds to create a sense of balance. The presence of the Metropolitan Museum of Art stamp indicates its provenance within a major collection. This print offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the Japanese literati, who favoured objects that combined utility with symbolic meaning. The careful placement of the screen and the box creates a sense of quiet order, inviting the viewer to examine the details of the craftsmanship. The work remains a fine example of the technical precision achieved by woodblock carvers and printers of the nineteenth century.