Artwork preview

Top-Shell and Various Shells

Totoya Hokkei

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a Japanese woodblock print titled "Top-Shell and Various Shells" by Totoya Hokkei. The print features a large conch shell in the center, with a yellow interior and a beige exterior. The conch shell has brown and beige details on it. There are several other shells of different shapes, sizes, and colors scattered around it. The shells are colored in shades of white, pink, gray, black, and brown. Some of the shells have visible lines or patterns on them. The background of the print fades from beige at the top to greenish-gray at the bottom. There are several lines of Japanese text written vertically throughout the image. A red seal or stamp is located in the top-right corner. A small, rectangular box with Japanese text is also present in the top-right corner. The overall composition is simple and visually appealing.

Artwork Details

Date
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
547 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette