Shikishiban

Shikishiban takes its name from shikishi, the square poem cards used in Japanese calligraphy and literary arts. At approximately 21 x 18 centimeters, the format is nearly square and was closely associated with surimono — privately commissioned, luxury prints. The square proportions distinguish it immediately from the rectangular formats used for commercial prints.

The shikishiban format was the standard size for surimono during their golden age in the early nineteenth century. Artists like Hokusai, Shinsai, and Gakutei created hundreds of surimono designs in this format, typically combining an image with kyoka (humorous 31-syllable poems) and using extravagant printing techniques including metallic pigments, blind embossing, and mica.

The format's association with luxury and refinement persists in contemporary printmaking. Its compact, balanced proportions make it suitable for still life, intimate landscape, and decorative subjects. For collectors, shikishiban-format prints — particularly Edo-period surimono — represent some of the finest examples of Japanese printing technique, as the private commissioning process encouraged printers to demonstrate their highest levels of skill without commercial cost constraints.