Hotei Balances a Young Man on His Arm
c. early 1770s
Medium
Color woodblock print; hashira-e
Dimensions
63.5 × 11.8 cm (25 × 4 5/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13317
Art Historical Context
Behold the delightful *Hotei Balances a Young Man on His*, a color woodblock print (hashira-e) by the Japanese artist Masunobu, created around the early 1770s. Measuring a slender 63.5 × 11.8 cm, this vertical "pillar print" was designed to hang on architectural pillars in homes or teahouses, a format that highlights its elongated composition and intimate scale. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Arts of Asia department, exemplifies the vibrant ukiyo-e tradition of Edo-period Japan, where everyday life and folklore merged in accessible art. At its heart is Hotei, one of the beloved Seven ...