{"product_id":"young-nobleman-playing-koto-kubo-shunman","title":"Young Nobleman Playing Koto - Kubo Shunman","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined surimono woodblock print by Kubo Shunman, depicting a nobleman playing the koto, accompanied by elegant calligraphy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis print by Kubo Shunman belongs to the genre of surimono, which were privately commissioned woodblock prints often distributed among members of poetry circles. Unlike commercial prints produced for the mass market, surimono allowed for greater experimentation with printing techniques, such as embossing and the use of metallic pigments. The subject depicts a young nobleman engaged with a koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. His posture is relaxed, reflecting the refined atmosphere associated with the aristocratic pastimes often celebrated in Edo-period literature and art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShunman was a versatile artist, active as both a print designer and a poet. His work frequently integrates calligraphy with visual imagery, creating a unified composition where the text and the figure share the pictorial space. The minimalist background, featuring a faint outline of distant hills, directs the viewer's attention to the figure and the instrument. The nobleman wears a patterned robe, rendered with subtle line work that demonstrates the technical precision of the carvers and printers involved in the production of such high-quality editions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones and muted washes to maintain a sense of elegance. The inclusion of classical poetry alongside the image suggests that this work was intended for an audience familiar with literary allusions. By focusing on the quiet concentration of the musician, the print captures a moment of stillness. It avoids the dramatic action found in other ukiyo-e genres, opting instead for a contemplative aesthetic that aligns with the tastes of the literati of the time. This print remains a fine example of the sophisticated output of the late eighteenth-century Japanese print tradition, where the interplay between word and image was central to the artistic experience.\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\/lady-playing-with-a-dog-on-a-veranda-nishikawa-sukenobu\" 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;\"\u003eLady Playing with a Dog on a Veranda - Nishikawa Sukenobu — Nishikawa Sukenobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kubo Shunman","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58413778010447,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58413794066767,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58413794099535,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58413794132303,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58413794165071,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58413794197839,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58413794230607,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58413794263375,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58413794296143,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58413794328911,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58413794361679,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58413794394447,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Young-Nobleman-Playing-Koto_Poster_CompositorV1_1786115586359.jpg?v=1786116425","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/young-nobleman-playing-koto-kubo-shunman","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}