Artwork preview

Biwa with Brocade Cover, from the series Musical Instruments

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A traditional Japanese-style artwork depicting a biwa, a large stringed instrument with a long neck and a bulbous body, lying on its side; the body features an intricate design with swirling patterns and motifs on a green and pink background; the long neck and plectrum extend to the right; a small potted plant sits to the left; Japanese text is written vertically on the left side and horizontally at the top center; the background is beige with a darker border.

Artwork Details

Date
probably 1808
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
600 × 460 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette