Who painted 元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase"?

元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase" was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 1821.

Where can I see 元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase"?

元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase" is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase"?

元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase" is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase"

Katsushika Hokusai , 1821

元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam, from the series "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase" is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP1873
Credit line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a single ash clam shell, serving as the visual component of a shell-matching game paired with a crane.

The work depicts a single ash clam shell, serving as the visual component of a shell-matching game paired with a crane. This pairing references the traditional Japanese custom of kai-awase, where clam shells must be matched by their unique interior shapes, often accompanied by poetic allusions. In this specific iconography, the crab or crane motif frequently symbolizes longevity and good fortune, creating a thematic link between the marine object and the bird.

As a surimono print from 1821, the image functions as both a decorative arts object and a cultural artifact celebrating the Genroku era's poetic heritage through the lens of Edo-period pastimes.

Technique & Style

The print is a woodblock work executed in ink and color on paper, typical of ukiyo-e production. Hokusai carved the design onto a wooden block, printed it using multiple blocks to achieve layered pigments, and applied hand-coloring to enhance depth. The composition depicts a crane rendered in stylized line and flat washes, reflecting the formal conventions of Edo-period still-life imagery.

The work’s handling is conventional for nishiki-e, with careful registration to align color impressions, preserving the crisp outlines and vibrant tonal contrasts characteristic of the medium.

History & Provenance

Created in 1821, this woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai depicts a crane and is part of the "Genroku Kasen Kai-awase" series, originally titled "元禄歌仙貝合|Ashi Clam". It was printed using ink and color on paper and classified as a still-life within the ukiyo-e tradition. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains today.

Overview

This woodblock print, 'Ashi Clam, from the series Genroku Kasen Kai-awase', was created by Katsushika Hokusai in 1821. It is a still life print featuring a shell and its contents.

Context

This print is part of the 'Genroku Kasen Kai-awase' series, where shell illustrations are paired with poets' names, evoking a memory game or matching exercise that links visual and literary elements.