Two Flatfish and Plum
ca. 1795 - ca. 1800
Medium
color woodcut
Dimensions
124; 167
About this artwork
Bruikleen van de Koninklijke Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst (legaat Westendorp-Osieck, 1968)
Art Historical Context
Katsushika Hokus's *Two Flatfish and Plum*, around 1795–1800, exemplifies the master's early mastery of ukiyo-e, the Japanese woodblock print tradition capturing the fleeting beauty of the "floating world." This intimate color woodcut, measuring just 124 mm high by 167 mm wide, likely belongs to the surimono genre—luxury prints often commissioned for special occasions like New Year's greetings. Hokusai, who would later produce iconic works like *The Great Wave off Kawa*, here turns his keen eye to a simple still life: two flatfish and ripening plums, rendered with vibrant hues and precise line...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...