Artists

Groupshow

Press release

With the exhibition Japan de luxe, Museum Rietberg showcases surimono, a distinctive form of Japanese colour woodblock print that emerged between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. Although surimono literally translates to 'printed things', these prints are far more than just that. Artfully designed and intricately printed on high-quality, unsized hōsho paper, each work is a gesamtkunstwerk. Surimono were printed in small editions of 50 to 500, intended as intimate gifts commissioned by the urban bourgeoisie. They often served as status symbols for the select group who commissioned them, reflecting society at that time. These luxurious greeting cards were made to mark seasonal festivals, personal and professional milestones and special cultural events.