Still-Life with Monkey Mask

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 techniques like karazuri (embossing) and mica dusting, which lend a tactile, jewel-like quality. The still-life composition, unusual in ukiyo-e's typical focus on courtesans or landscapes, centers on a whimsical monkey mask amid everyday objects, highlighting Hokkei's mastery of texture and light. These masks evoke Japanese theater traditions, such as kabuki or Noh, blending the mundane with the fantastical. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print reflects surimono's cultural role as bespoke art for the elite, celebrating craftsmanship and subtle humor. Visitors will appreciate its playful yet precise depiction, a window into Edo Japan's vibrant print culture. (198 words)

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...