De paarse schelp
Medium
nishikie, with metallic pigments
Dimensions
174; 192
About this artwork
Twee groepen vissers trekken een walvis op het droge. De locatie is het dorp Katase, tegenover Enoshima eiland. De schelp waar de titel naar verwijst is afgebeeld in het waaiervormige cartouche. Met twee gedichten.
Art Historical Context
**De Paarse Schelp (The Purple Shell)** by Katsushika Hokusai, created in 1821, is a exquisite example of *nishikie*—vibrant woodblock prints as "brocade pictures" for their rich colors and intricate details. Measuring just 192mm by 174mm, this compact work showcases Hokusai's mastery ukiyo-e, the Japanese art of pictures of the floating world, capturing fleeting moments of everyday life and nature during Japan's Edo period. The use of metallic pigments adds a luxurious shimmer, elevating it beyond standard prints to the realm of elite *surimono* commissions, often exchanged as New Year's gree...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...