Helmet and Plum Blossoms
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (14 x 18.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP2222
Tags
Art Historical Context
Discover the delicate artistry of *Helmet and Plum Bloss*, a woodblock printsurimono) by Totoya Hokkei, a Japanese artist of the Edo period (161–1868). Created an unknown date, this intimate work measures just 5½ x 7¼ inches, showcasing the refined scale typical of surimono—privately commissioned prints often produced for special occasions like New Year's greetings. Hokkei, a student of the famed Katsushika Hokusai, mastered ukiyo-e techniques, blending ink and vibrant colors on paper to capture fleeting beauty amid Japan's vibrant urban culture. At its heart, the print juxtaposes a gleaming ...
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...