Sake cup and fan
Early 19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
21 × 12.4 cm (8 5/16 × 4 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34388
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Arts of Asia gallery, where we encounter *Sake Cup and Fan*, a delicate color woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei the early 19th century. Hokkei, a ukiyo-e artist pupil of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, mastered the intimate genre of *surimono*—privately commissioned prints produced in limited editions for elite patrons, often as New Year's greetings. Measuring just 21 × 12.4 cm, this compact work exemplifies the precision of Japanese woodblock printing, where intricate blocks were carved and inked in multiple colors for a luxurious, embossed effect. In Edo-period Japan (1603–1...
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...