Two Court Ladies Admire the Cherry Trees

As the audience for surimono was a sophisticated and educated one, the artists had more latitude in choosing subject matter and style than in the arena of commercial "ukiyo-e." Consequently, in addition to developing new print themes, such as still life and nature studies, surimono designers were also able to turn back to more classical painting traditions, as exemplified by these court beauties of a style centuries old.

Vertical diptychs are an unusual format. If separated, each composition would be successful in its own right and, as both are signed, it would be difficult to recognize that either one was merely half of a diptych.

Credit: Rogers Fund, 1919