Monkey and Crab
Monkey and Crab

Currently not on view

Monkey and Crab

Keisai Eisen 渓斎英泉, 1790–1848

Japanese

Edo period, 1603–1868

x1983-94
In this surimono print, the monkey is bartering a persimmon seed for the crab’s triangular rice ball. The image refers to a wellknown folktale in which a monkey takes advantage of a crab, claiming the seed would grow into a tree that would yield fruit. The persimmons eventually ripen, and the monkey offers to pick them for the crab, only to eat them himself. When the crab protests, the monkey throws an unripe fruit and fatally injures her. The crab gives birth just before she dies, and her offspring eventually avenge their mother’s death.

Information

Title
Monkey and Crab
Maker
Keisai Eisen 渓斎英泉
Medium

Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper

Dimensions

19.8 x 17.2 cm. (7 13/16 x 6 3/4 in.)
mat: 49.1 x 36.2 cm. (19 5/16 x 14 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Straka

Object Number
x1983-94
Place Made

Asia, Japan

Signatures

Signed lower right: Keisai

Inscription

Poem, upper left, by Shin Eitei Kokinman'yo

Marks/Labels/Seals

Seal lower right: Eisen
Collector's seal lower right corner verso

Culture
Japanese
Period
Edo (Japanese period)
Type
prints, japanese printmaking styles, woodblock prints
Materials
ink, paper, color
Techniques
woodcut (process)
Subject
crabs, monkeys, poems

IIIF manifest

The International Image Interoperability Framework, or IIIF, is an open standard for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale. Visit iiif.io to learn more.

Open API URL

Our API is generally designed to provide programmatic access to the Museum's collections data for applications that require regular updates and/or the ability to dynamically query and filter the data via the endpoints provided.

Share your feedback with us

The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

Explore More

Holidays at the Museum

Princeton Collects

Mosaic Restaurant