Imaginary Portraits of Famous Poets

Imaginary Portraits of Famous Poets

Kano Shōun

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These imaginary portraits of famous poets of the past, including two women, were most probably once part of album of thirty-six poetic immortals (sanjūrokkasen) that included accompanying sheets with poems.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Imaginary Portraits of Famous PoetsImaginary Portraits of Famous PoetsImaginary Portraits of Famous PoetsImaginary Portraits of Famous PoetsImaginary Portraits of Famous Poets

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.