A God Playing a Flute (From the Series The Spring Cave), Hokkei, 1825

These elegant surimono prints come from a set of five images inspired by the legend of the shinto supreme sun goddess, amaterasu. She was once so offended by her brother that she retreated into a cave, leaving the earth in darkness. Several attempts to lure her out with cocks crowing, music-making, and a goddess dancing failed, but a mirror hung from a nearby tree made amaterasu curious, bringing her to the entrance of the cave. A stone was quickly placed at the entrance to block her way back into the cave, and light was restored to the world. Each print is set against a blue evening sky with embossed clouds enriched with gold, silver, and copper. Date: 1825. Place of creation: Japan, Edo Period (1615-1868). Dimensions: Sheet: 18.8 x 21.4 cm (7 3/8 x 8 7/16 in.). Medium: color woodblock print. Collection: Cleveland Museum of Art. Totoya Hokkei - A God Playing a Flute (From the Series The Spring Cave) - 1940.990.5 - Cleveland Museum of Art