Court Ladies Making Dolls
1794
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
1794
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Court Ladies Making Dolls is a 1794 by Kubo Shunman, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see three women in silk robes sitting on the floor, sewing tiny dolls by hand. These dolls weren’t just toys—they were gifts for shrines, meant to keep children safe. The painting is part of a *surimono*, a print that pairs art with poetry for special occasions. The details in the fabric and thread show how carefully the artist worked. To see more of this quiet, everyday beauty, look up japan, edo period (1615–1868).
Since ancient times dolls were used in Japan for religious purposes, especially for the healing of impurities or illness. Mothers often presented dolls to shrines to secure the protection of kami (spirits) for their children. Each year there is a doll festival (Hina Matsuri) or Girl's Festival on March 3rd at which families display heirloom sets of dolls dressed in costumes of the ancient imperial court. This is a section of a surimono (a print in which an image is combined with poetry to celebrate a special event) or an album page.
Myrta Leonora Jones, the donor of this work, was a women’s rights activist in Cleveland in the early 20th century.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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