1780–1850
Totoya Hokkei (魚屋 北渓, 1780–1850), born Iwakubo Tatsuyuki in Edo (modern Tokyo), began his life as a humble fishmonger in the Yotsuya Samegahashi district, a trade reflected in his art name "Totoya," meaning fish shop. He transitioned to art through rigorous training, first studying under Kanō Yōsen'in Korenobu, head of the Kobikichō branch of the prestigious Kanō school, where he honed landscape painting skills. Soon after, Hokkei became one of Katsushika Hokusai's earliest and most accomplished pupils, collaborating closely on projects like the initial volumes of *Hokusai Manga* in the 1810s.
In the ukiyo-e tradition, Hokkei's style was light, simple, and versatile, echoing Hokusai's influence while embracing diverse approaches—from the elegant simplicity of early master Hishikawa Moronobu to Western-inspired techniques. His peak in the 1820s and 1830s saw him produce at least 800 surimono (luxurious, privately commissioned prints) and illustrate around 100 books, including kyōka poetry anthologies, erotica, and comic novels like Ishikawa Masamochi's *Hokuri Jūniji* ("The Twelve Hours of the Northern Village"). Notable series include *Famous Places from Various Provinces* (*Shokoku meisho*, 15 prints, 1835–36), while standout works feature *Beauty in a Boat during a Rainstorm* (c. 1804), *Head of a Salmon* (c. 1815–25), *Autumn Maples at the Takinogawa River* (c. 1820–40), and *Courtesan Riding a Lion* (c. 1830s). He also created his own *Hokkei Manga*, a sketchbook mirroring Hokusai's innovative format.
Hokkei's prolific output extended to nishiki-e color prints of warriors (*musha-e*), beauties (*bijin-ga*), and paintings, with his earliest dated work, the kyōka anthology *Kyoka shakushi-guri* (1799), marking his debut. He mentored a cadre of artists, including Yashima Gakutei and several with "Kei-" prefixes like Nishimoto Keisetsu. Dying at 70 and buried at Ryūhōji temple in Aoyama, Hokkei's legacy endures as a bridge between Kanō formality and ukiyo-e dynamism, celebrated for over 220 documented works that capture Edo's vibrant culture with wit and precision.
