Lacquer Box, Fan, and Okina Mask

Art Historical Context

Totoya Hokkei's *Lacquer Box, Fan, and Okina Mask* a exquisite 19th-century color woodblock print from Japan, exemplifying the refined art of *surimono*. These privately commissioned prints, often created as New Year's greetings or poetic invitations for elite circles, stand out for their luxurious production. Hokkei, a pupil of the master Katsushika Hokusai, mastered this intimate format, blending ukiyo-e realism with poetic elegance in works measuring just 21 × 18.2 cm. The composition showcases a still life of treasured objects: a gleaming lacquer box, an intricately painted fan, and the venerable Okina mask from Noh theater. The mask, symbolizing an ancient white-haired deity in sacred dances, evokes Japan's spiritual traditions, while the box and fan highlight artisanal craftsmanship central to Edo-period culture. Hokkei's precise lines, vibrant colors, and subtle textures—achieved through meticulous woodblock carving—capture the tactile beauty of these items, inviting viewers to appreciate their cultural resonance. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print reveals surimono's role in fostering literary and artistic exchange among intellectuals, bridging everyday luxury with profound symbolism in Japan's floating world.

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...