One Hundred Comic Poems of the Flower - Totoya Hokkei

A delicate woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei featuring cherry blossoms and kyoka poetry, representative of the refined Japanese surimono tradition.

This woodblock print originates from the series Sansai hana hyakushu, or One Hundred Comic Poems of the Flower, produced by the Japanese artist Totoya Hokkei. Hokkei was a student of Katsushika Hokusai, and his work often reflects the refined aesthetic of the surimono tradition. Surimono were privately commissioned prints, often distributed among members of poetry circles to commemorate special occasions or seasonal changes. They are characterised by their high production quality, frequently employing techniques such as embossing, metallic pigments, and delicate colour gradients.

The composition features a blossoming cherry tree branch extending across two panels. The dark, textured bark of the branch provides a contrast to the pale, delicate petals of the flowers. Behind the branch, a large, circular motif in a soft, warm hue suggests the presence of the moon or perhaps the sun, creating a sense of atmospheric depth. The inclusion of calligraphic text, which consists of kyoka (comic poems), integrates the visual elements with the literary purpose of the print. The balance between the organic form of the tree and the structured placement of the text is typical of the Edo period aesthetic.

Technically, the print demonstrates the precision of the woodblock medium. The lines defining the bark are rendered with a sense of weight and texture, while the petals are depicted with a lighter touch. The colour palette is restrained, relying on earthy tones and subtle washes to evoke a specific mood. This work is an example of the intersection between visual art and literature in nineteenth-century Japan, where the appreciation of nature and the craft of poetry were deeply intertwined. The print remains a record of the cultural activities of the period, reflecting the interests of the literati who commissioned such works.