Pillow for Women and a Bowl - Totoya Hokkei

A refined surimono woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei, featuring a traditional Japanese pillow and ceramic bowl, accompanied by elegant calligraphy.

This woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei is a fine example of a surimono, a privately commissioned work often exchanged among members of poetry circles during the Edo period. Unlike commercial prints produced for mass consumption, surimono allowed artists to experiment with luxurious printing techniques, such as metallic pigments and embossing, which are visible here in the delicate texture of the pillow fabric.

The composition features a traditional Japanese pillow, or makura, paired with a ceramic bowl. The objects are rendered with a focus on material quality, from the chequered fabric of the pillow to the blue and white glaze of the bowl. The inclusion of calligraphy at the top of the print suggests that this image was created to accompany a kyoka poem, a humorous or satirical form of waka poetry popular among the urban literati of the time. The juxtaposition of these domestic items invites the viewer to consider the quiet moments of daily life, elevated through the refined aesthetic of the print.

Hokkei, a student of Katsushika Hokusai, was highly regarded for his ability to capture the texture of objects with precision. His work often displays a sophisticated use of colour and a balanced arrangement of space. The print demonstrates the technical mastery of the carvers and printers who collaborated with the artist to produce such detailed surfaces. The soft, muted tones of the bowl contrast with the stark black of the pillow, creating a visual equilibrium that is characteristic of the artist's mature style. This piece offers a glimpse into the cultural habits of the period, where art and literature were integrated into the social exchanges of the merchant and samurai classes.