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『春雨集』　摺物帖柳々居辰斎画　紅梅|Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1: Plum Tree in Bloom

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai

1808

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Flower Tree

Dominant colour

『春雨集』　摺物帖柳々居辰斎画　紅梅|Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1: Plum Tree in Bloom is a 1808 ink by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, a Romanticism work, depicting Flower, 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 a single branch of a plum tree heavy with bright red blossoms. The flowers stand out against dark, twisting lines that suggest bark and leaves. On the left side, there’s Japanese writing in vertical columns, filling the empty space like a poem or notes. The artist used quick, sharp strokes to make the branches look rough and alive. The red flowers pop against the pale background, almost like they’re glowing. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.