Jo and Uba of Takasago Looking at the Rising Sun; Symbolic Representation of Longevity and Conjugal Harmony
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 x 10 1/4 in. (20.3 x 26 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
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
JP2345
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this exquisite 19th-century wood print by Totoya Hokkei, ukiyo-e artist renowned for his delicate surimono—privately commissioned albums of refined prints—we see the legendary couple Jo and Uba the tale of Takasago. The elderly pair stands gazing at the rising sun, timeless conjugal harmony and enduring love. Hokkei's masterful use of ink and color on captures their serene figures against a poetic landscape, with turtles subtly woven into the scene as potent symbols of longevity in Japanese folklore. Surimono like this one were luxurious, limited-edition prints often created for New Year's...
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...