Goat beneath a plum tree - Totoya Hokkei

A delicate Japanese woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei, featuring a goat standing beneath a flowering plum tree in the traditional surimono style.

This woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei is a fine example of surimono, a genre of privately commissioned, limited-edition prints often exchanged among poets and artists in Edo-period Japan. Hokkei, a student of Katsushika Hokusai, adopted his teacher's attention to detail while developing a distinct, refined aesthetic. The composition features a goat standing in profile, its form rendered with delicate, flowing lines that capture the texture of its coat. The animal is positioned beneath the gnarled, textured branches of a plum tree, which is depicted with subtle colour gradients and fine detail.

The print incorporates calligraphic text, a common feature of surimono, which often includes kyoka (witty verse). The soft, warm tones of the background suggest a gentle atmosphere, contrasting with the darker, more textured ink used for the tree trunk. The use of negative space is deliberate, allowing the viewer to focus on the interaction between the animal and the botanical element. Hokkei's work is characterised by this balance of natural observation and decorative sensibility. The print demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship involved in the production of surimono, from the carving of the woodblocks to the application of pigments.

As a student of the Ukiyo-e tradition, Hokkei excelled in these smaller, more intimate formats. This piece reflects the cultural practices of the time, where art was integrated into social exchanges. The goat, often associated with auspicious symbolism in East Asian art, is rendered with a sense of quiet dignity. The print remains a representative example of the technical skill and poetic sensibility found in early 19th-century Japanese printmaking.