Strong man at pillar
n.d.
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
20.7 × 18.2 cm (8 3/16 × 7 3/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81480
Art Historical Context
**Strong Man at Pillar** by Totoya Hokkei1791–1848) is a captivating color woodblock print in the *shikishiban surimono* format, a compact 20.7 × 18.2 cm. in the early 19th century during Japan's Edo period, this undated work exemplifies Hokkei's mastery within the ukiyo-e. As a pupil of the renowned Katsushika Hokusai, Hokkei specialized in these intimate, square-shaped prints, often commissioned for private poetry circles or New Year's greetings. Surimono, meaning "printed things," were luxury editions distinct from mass-produced ukiyo-e, featuring superior inks, subtle embossing, and metal...
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...