The Nightly Boat Outing

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**The Nightly Boat Outing by Totoya Hokkei created in 1826, captures the enchanting spirit of Edo-period Japan through a delicate *nishikie*—a vibrant color woodblock print renowned as a "brocade picture" for its rich, layered hues. Hokkei, a skilled ukiyo-e artist and follower of the master Katsushika Hokusai, specialized in intimate scenes of daily life, landscapes, and festivities. This small vertical print (200mm × 168mm) evokes a moonlit adventure on the water, likely alluding to the "floating world" pleasures of nighttime revelry along Japan's rivers, a popular motif in ukiyo-e that celebrated fleeting joys amid urban sophistication. The use of metallic pigments—gold or silver flecks—adds a luxurious shimmer, mimicking lantern light or rippling water, a technique that elevated *nishikie* from everyday prints to collector's treasures. Produced during a boom in private commissions like *surimono* (custom New Year's prints), it reflects the era's craftsmanship, where carvers and printers collaborated to achieve stunning color depth without modern inks. On the verso, a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) stamps its provenance, linking it to esteemed European connoisseurs and underscoring its enduring appeal. A gem for ukiyo-e enthusiasts, this work invites us to drift into Japan's poetic nights. (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...