1825
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Drummer from The Cave Door of Spring is a 1825 by Totoya Hokkei, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a man dressed in fine robes beating a small barrel drum. His sleeves are wide and his pose is dramatic. He looks ready to jump into the action. The image is one of five *surimono* prints. These prints were special, private commissions, not meant for mass sale. They often featured poetry or clever wordplay. Check out the Cleveland Museum of Art to see the full set in person.
These elegant surimono prints come from a set of five images inspired by the legend of the Shinto Supreme Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. She was once so offended by her brother that she retreated into a cave, leaving the earth in darkness. Several attempts to lure her out with cocks crowing, music making, and a goddess dancing failed, but a mirror hung from a nearby tree made Amaterasu curious, bringing her to the entrance of the cave. A stone was quickly placed at the entrance to block her way back into the cave, and light was restored to the world. Each print is set against a blue evening sky with…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Totoya Hokkei (魚屋 北渓; 1780–1850) was a Japanese artist best known for his prints in the ukiyo-e style.
See the richer artist page
