Artwork preview

Hotei Opening His Bag which Is Full of Small Boys

Kita Busei

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A Japanese-style woodblock print depicts Hotei with his bag open, releasing small boys. Hotei is on the right side, bald, with a beard and mustache. He wears a white robe with a pattern and a dark robe over his shoulders. His head is tilted down. The bag is white with a patterned design, held open at the bottom, and full of small boys. The boys are dressed in traditional Japanese clothing in red, green, and brown. Some have their arms and legs outstretched. To the left of Hotei are two small objects, possibly a pot and a jar. Japanese text is written vertically on the left side. The background is beige with darker spots.

Artwork details

Medium:
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
600 × 436 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette