Koto and New Year’s Offering, illustration for The Akoya Beach Shell (Akoyagai), from the series "A Matching Game with Genroku-period Poem Shells (Genroku kasen kai awase)"

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus, the legendary Japanese artist renowned for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints like *The Great Wave off Kanag*, created this exquisite surimono in 1821. Titled *Koto and New Year Offering, illustration for The Akoya Shell (Akoyagai)*, it belongs to the series *A Matching Game with Gen-period Poem Shells (roku kasen kai awase)*. This playful series draws from the traditional *kai awase* shell-matching game, pairing famous poems from the Genroku era (1688–1704) with evocative images of shells found on Akoya Beach. Surimono like this were deluxe, privately commissioned prints, often produced as New Year’s greetings for poetry circles, blending art, literature, and seasonal celebration. The compact shikishiban format (20.9 × 17.8 cm) showcases Hokusai’s mastery of nishikie—or “brocade pictures”—with vibrant colors, metallic pigments that shimmer like gold and silver, and blindprinting (gauffrage) for subtle embossed textures. These techniques elevated the print from everyday ukiyo-e to a luxurious object, mimicking the opulence of fine textiles and reflecting Edo-period (1603–1868) craftsmanship. Culturally, the artwork captures Japan’s poetic heritage, where shells symbolized wit and romance in aristocratic games. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Asia department, it invites visitors to appreciate Hokusai’s innovative fusion of everyday motifs—like a koto zither and New Year’s offerings—with profound artistic refinement.

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...