Pillow for Women and a Bowl
19th century
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 5/16 x 7 1/4 in. (21.1 x 18.4 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
JP2342
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Pillow for Women and a Bowl" is a delicate woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei, also known as Shibayamadō (1780–1850), a prominent Japanese artist of the ukiyo-e school and pupil of the famed Katsushika Hokusai. Created in the 19th century as part of a surimono album, this intimate work measures just 8 5/16 x 7 1/4 inches and captures everyday objects—a woman's pillow and a bowl—in ink and color on paper. Surimono, meaning "printed things," were luxurious, privately commissioned prints often produced for New Year's celebrations or poetry gatherings, blending artistry with literati culture. Hokk...
About the Artist
Totoya Hokkei|Shibayamadō · 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...