{"product_id":"white-mice-playing-kubo-shunman","title":"White Mice Playing - Kubo Shunman","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined Japanese woodblock print by Kubo Shunman, depicting white mice on a wooden apparatus, typical of the sophisticated surimono genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKubo Shunman, a polymath of the Edo period, produced this delicate woodblock print as a surimono. These private commissions were typically distributed among members of poetry circles, often featuring a combination of refined imagery and kyoka, a form of humorous or satirical waka poetry. The subject matter here is playful, depicting white mice navigating a small wooden structure, likely a toy or a training apparatus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is characteristic of the surimono genre, which prioritises a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. Shunman employs a subtle colour palette, relying on soft greens, muted blacks, and the natural tone of the paper to create a sense of quiet observation. The mice are rendered with precise, fine lines, capturing their movement as one ascends the ladder while another emerges from the upper box. The inclusion of calligraphy adds a layer of literary depth, integrating the visual art with the specific cultural interests of the patron who commissioned the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically, the print demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship associated with Edo-period woodblock printing. The use of embossing, or karazuri, on the bodies of the mice provides a tactile quality that elevates the image beyond a simple illustration. The dark box, decorated with a repeating floral motif, provides a grounding element against the lighter, more airy components of the ladder and base. This work reflects the sophisticated tastes of the urban literati in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Japan, where art and poetry functioned in tandem to provide intellectual and aesthetic pleasure. The print remains a clear example of the restraint and technical precision that defined Shunman's contributions to the ukiyo-e tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-young-woman-and-man-playing-shogi-suzuki-harunobu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eA Young Woman and Man Playing Shōgi - Suzuki Harunobu — Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kubo Shunman","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58412938559823,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58412959007055,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58412959039823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58412959072591,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58412959105359,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58412959138127,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58412959170895,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58412959203663,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58412959236431,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58412959269199,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58412959301967,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58412959334735,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/White-Mice-Playing_Poster_CompositorV1_1786111533358.jpg?v=1786111761","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/white-mice-playing-kubo-shunman","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}