Artwork preview

Books and a Bookcase

Keisai Eisen

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A Japanese-style woodblock print titled "Books and a Bookcase" by Keisai Eisen, depicting a low, two-tiered bookcase with a pinkish-brown finish. The bookcase has a tassel hanging from each side. The top shelf holds a blue pot with a tree, a brown box with a leaf pattern, and a small wooden box. The bottom shelf contains a stack of books with blue and white covers on the left and a stack of books with light-colored covers on the right. A blue book with a brown design lies open on the floor in front of the bookcase. The background is beige with Japanese writing scattered throughout.

Artwork Details

Date
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
540 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette