{"product_id":"ono-no-tofu-standing-on-the-bank-of-a-stream-and-watching-a-frog-leap-to-catch-a-willow-branch-totoya-hokkei","title":"Ono no Tofu Standing on the Bank of a Stream and Watching a Frog Leap to Catch a Willow Branch - Totoya Hokkei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fine surimono woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei depicting the calligrapher Ono no Tofu finding inspiration in a frog's persistence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei depicts the Heian-period calligrapher Ono no Tofu. The scene captures a well-known legend in Japanese culture: the scholar, feeling discouraged by his lack of progress in his craft, observes a frog attempting to jump onto a willow branch. The frog fails repeatedly but eventually succeeds, providing Tofu with the inspiration to persevere in his own studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHokkei, a student of Hokusai, was a master of the surimono format. These prints were privately commissioned, often for poetry circles, and utilised high-quality paper and sophisticated printing techniques. The composition is balanced, with the figure of Tofu holding a large, open umbrella, his gaze directed towards the small frog suspended in the air near the willow. The lines are precise and delicate, characteristic of the refined aesthetic found in early nineteenth-century Japanese printmaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones and muted pigments to create a sense of quiet contemplation. The inclusion of calligraphic text surrounding the figure adds a layer of narrative depth, typical of surimono works where image and poem function as a unified whole. The figure of Tofu is dressed in traditional court attire, rendered with attention to the patterns on his robes. This print offers a glimpse into the intersection of historical legend, literary tradition, and visual art in the Edo period. It remains a fine example of the technical skill and thematic focus of Hokkei, who was known for his ability to blend classical subjects with a contemporary sensibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/young-married-couple-on-a-summer-sleeping-mat-kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eYoung Married Couple on a Summer Sleeping Mat - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Totoya Hokkei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729227878735,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729236005199,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729236037967,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729236070735,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729236103503,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729236136271,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729236169039,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729236201807,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729236234575,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729236267343,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729236300111,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729236332879,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Ono-no-Tofu-Standing-on-the-Bank-of-a-Stream-and-Watching-a-Frog-Leap-to-Catch-a-Willow-Branch_Poster_CompositorV1_1788983324086.jpg?v=1788983646","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/ono-no-tofu-standing-on-the-bank-of-a-stream-and-watching-a-frog-leap-to-catch-a-willow-branch-totoya-hokkei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}