1830
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/16 x 7 1/4 in. (20.5 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
Rogers Fund, 1921
Accession Number
JP1241
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting woodblock print, created by Totoya Hokkei 1830 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the delicate artistry of *surimono*—privately commissioned prints often produced for New Year's greetings or special occasions. Hokkei, a skilled pupil of the famed Katsushika Hokusai, specialized in these intimate works, blending ukiyo-e traditions with luxurious embellishments like mica dusting and embossing for a tactile, shimmering effect. Measuring just 8 1/16 x 7 1/4 inches, its compact size made it ideal for personal exchange among literati and merchants. Featuring tender sc...
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...