saitan surimono 歳旦摺物

Also simply saitan 歳旦. A woodblock print commissioned by a poet, or a man of versatile tastes, to give to his friends as a New Year greeting. It consisted of a poem, often a comic poem kyōka 狂歌, newly composed by the poet and a painting either created by the poet himself or commissioned from an *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 artist. Because it was a work to commission, the quality of paper, pigments, and printing technique were very high. A type of *surimono 摺物, or privately sponsored woodblock print. In fact a majority of surimono are saitan. Became popular in the 1790's and have continued to be made until modern times.