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『春雨集』　摺物帖柳々居辰斎画　蟹と蓮華|Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1: Crabs and Lotus Blossoms

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai

1808

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Crab Lotus

Dominant colour

『春雨集』　摺物帖柳々居辰斎画　蟹と蓮華|Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1: Crabs and Lotus Blossoms is a 1808 ink by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, a Romanticism work, depicting Crab, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Ryūryūkyo Shinsai
When & what style?: 1808 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows two crabs climbing over each other on a flat surface. One crab is dark and detailed, while the other is lighter with a soft, almost ghostly look. Nearby, a few green lotus leaves sit on the right side, simple and flat against the pale background. The artist used fine lines to create texture, especially on the crabs’ shells and legs. The lighter crab almost blends into the paper, as if half-hidden. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines.