Cleveland Museum of Art

Court Ladies Making Dolls

Kubo Shunman

Date: 1790s
Medium: color woodblock print
Culture: Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Department: Japanese Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

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.

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