Still-Life with Monkey Mask
1824
Medium
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban
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
88635
Art Historical Context
**Still-Life with Monkey** by Totoya Hok, created in 1824, exemplifies the refined artistry of Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). Hokkei, a skilled ukiyo-e print and pupil of the famed Katsushika Hokusai, specialized in intimate, luxurious surimono—privately commissioned woodblock prints exchanged as New Year's greetings among the literati. This shikishiban format, a compact square measuring 20.9 × 18.2 cm, was prized for its elegance and portability, allowing for exquisite detail in a small space. Printed in vibrant colors with shimmering metallic pigments, the work showcases advanced woodblock...
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...