Hanagasaren shichifukujin

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, passe-partout, links onder, gedrukt: JABdH met een haan.

Art Historical Context

**Hanagasaren Shichukujin** is a delicate woodblock print by Katsukawa Shuntei, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of Japan's late Edo period (c. 1820). Shuntei, from the esteemed Katsukawa school known for vivid actor portraits and genre scenes, captures the Seven Lucky Gods (*shichifukujin*)—benevolent deities like Ebisu, Daikokuten, and Benzaiten—in a playful, floral motif suggested by the title, evoking scattered blossoms (*hana gasaren*). These figures, symbols of fortune and prosperity, were beloved in popular culture, often featured in New Year's greetings or surimono prints commissioned for elite patrons. Crafted as a *nishikie* (brocade picture), this small-format work (199 × 176 mm) showcases the pinnacle of ukiyo-e technique: intricate woodblock carving layered with vibrant pigments and metallic accents like gold or silver mica. These luxurious touches added a shimmering, jewel-like quality, elevating affordable prints to art treasures. The print's compact size hints at personal or gift use, reflecting the democratizing spirit of ukiyo-e amid Japan's urban flourishing. Bearing a collector's mark "JABdH" with a rooster (bottom left, under passe-partout), it nods to European fascination with Japanese prints during the 19th century. This piece exemplifies how ukiyo-e bridged Eastern folklore and global art influence, delighting viewers with its whimsical charm and technical brilliance.

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shuntei · 1770–1820

Katsukawa Shuntei (1770–1820), originally named Yamaguchi Chōjūrō, was a versatile ukiyo-e printmaker of Japan's Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate. His early life remains sparsely documented, but by the late 1790s, he had entered the prestigious Katsukawa school, studying under the master Katsukawa Shun'ei, who led the school following the death of founder Shunshō. Shuntei's earliest authent...