Shells
1970s
Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic
The beach at Casa Playita
This feature explores drawings and prints created by Janet Ruttenberg at Casa Playita, as well as the art she collected there. A shared focus on a seashell motif illustrates the layered conversation between the artist, the surroundings of her Dominican seaside retreat, and the legacy of masters who shaped her vision.
Shells under Water, Kitagawa Utamaro, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, 1790
The Ruttenbergs visited Casa Playita from the late 1960s until the early 80s. There, Janet styled the home with woodblock prints by Japanese master Kitagawa Utamaro. These pages come from one of his kyōka-ehon, a late Edo-period book format that paired classical waka poetry with image. One poem, written in the fourth vertical column from the right, reads: “From the distant shore, only the sound of shells can be heard.”
Always attuned to the material conservation of fragile works on paper like these, Janet protected the woodblock prints from sunlight by covering them with blue and white dish towels, viewing them only at night by candlelight.
Girls Playing a Game with Shells, Kitagawa Utamaro, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, 1790
In one highlight from Ruttenberg's art collection at Casa Playita, Utamaro’s Girls Playing a Game with Shells, the Japanese master depicts Kai-awase, the Shell-Matching game. Kai-awase dates back to the Heian period (794–1185), when it became a popular pastime at the imperial court. In the traditional version of this game, pairs of clam shells are split, and the goal is for players to match exact halves.
The living room at Casa Playita