34 Shinsai 1764 – 1823 Monkey with a Purification Wand

Japan, Meiji period (late 19th century, after an original design from the early 19th century)

This charming sheet belongs to the exclusive subcategory of prints known as surimono. Unlike commercial prints, surimono were privately commissioned in small runs for wealthy individuals or poetry circles, allowing artists to employ the most expensive and luxurious printing techniques. The original design is by Shinsai, brilliantly depicting a monkey dressed in a patterned red kimono and a tall court cap. Over its shoulder, it carries a wooden wand with attached paper bundles (gohei), a tool used in Shinto purification rituals. The present impression is a high-quality collector's edition from the early Meiji period, an era when publishers reprinted famous surimono designs, often utilizing the original woodblocks. The print excels in its fine detailing of the fur and maintains the luxurious standards of the tradition, evidenced by the traces of burnishing visible in the deep black of the monkey's cap. The upper section of the composition is traditionally complemented by poetic calligraphy.