Lady Seated by a Tokonoma Alcove
1829
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
20.9 × 18.2 cm (8 1/4 × 7 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23583
Art Historical Context
In the intimate world of 19th-century Japan, Totoya Hokkei's *Lady Seated by aonoma Alcove* (1829) captures a of refined elegance. Hokkei, a skilled ukiyo-e print and pupil of the legendary Katsushikaokusai, specialized in depicting bijin—beautiful women—in everyday yet poetic settings. Created during the late Edo period, this wood print reflects the era's fascination with domestic tranquility and aesthetic harmony, where the tokonoma alcove served as a room's spiritual focal point for displaying scrolls, flowers, or ceramics. As a surimono, this color woodblock print stands out for its luxur...
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...