Hamagawa, from the series "A Record of a Journey to Enoshima (Enoshima kiko)"
1833
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
21.3 × 17.9 cm (8 7/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
80994
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e with *Hamagawa, from the series "A Record of a Journey to Enoshima (Enoshima kiko)"* by Totoya Hokkei, created in 1833. Hokkei, a skilled pupil of the master Katsushika Hokusai, captures a picturesque moment along the journey to Enoshima, a revered island shrine near Kamakura popular for pilgrimages. This intimate scene likely depicts the Hamagawa area—perhaps a river or coastal path—evoking the wanderlust of Edo-period travelers amid lush landscapes and everyday life. Printed as a *shikishiban surimono*, this square-format color wo...
About the Artist
Totoya Hokkei · 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 p...