Court Ladies Making Dolls — Antique Asian Art Print

The Story in the Margin

This print, showing women of the Japanese court occupied in making dolls, is attributed to the Edo-period artist Kubo Shunman and likely formed part of a surimono — a privately commissioned print combining image and poetry to mark a special occasion. Doll-making and doll display were bound up with Japanese ritual life, from protective dolls offered at shrines to the annual Hina Matsuri, or Doll Festival, held every March to bless young girls. Scenes of elegant court women at leisure were a favoured subject for artists working in this refined, poetic strand of ukiyo-e.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.