Print

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 scenes of boys and women, the print captures the everyday poetry of Edo life, where vibrant inks and precise carving techniques brought fleeting moments to life on paper. Surimono like this one stood apart from mass-produced ukiyo-e, showcasing higher craftsmanship and poetic inscriptions that reflected seasonal or cultural themes. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1921, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, offering a window into Japan's vibrant print culture at its peak.

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...