Poetic Presents and Picture Puzzles

In this episode, Clare Pollard, the Curator of Japanese Art, and researcher Kiyoko Hanaoka introduce us to surimono prints, which combined poems and picture puzzles in beautiful objects designed to be exchanged as gifts by members of Japanese poetry clubs. Join them as they decode the clues in these complex and beautiful prints.

The priest Sōjō Henjō, who fell – a woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyasu (1794–1832)
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Ono no Tōfu – a woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei (1780 - 1850)
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If you want to take a closer look at the objects mentioned in this episode, you can view them at the links above. Visit the podcast page on the Ashmolean website: ashmolean.org/objects-out-loud

Hosted by Lucie Dawkins, with Clare Pollard and Kiyoko Hanaoka.
The producer is Lucie Dawkins.

About Objects Out Loud: From a magician who inspired Shakespeare, and poems woven into Japanese prints, to manuscripts illuminated with the ancient love story of Layla and Majnun, this new podcast series will delve into the poetry and literature hidden in the collections at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

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