The First Katsuo of the Season

Object Details

• Artist

  Totoya Hokkei 魚屋北渓 (1780-1850)

• Description

  This painting is a presentation of still-life and poetry on hanging scroll format. The painted image features assorted vegetables, plate, cup, lacquer box, a sprig of wisteria, and, most prominently, a fresh bonito on a large blue and white charger. Above the painting are inscribed twelve poems, signed by poets who were members of the same circle or club.

• Signatures

  Unsigned.

• Marks

  Red seal: Hokkei.

• Inscriptions

  Above the painting are inscribed twelve poems, signed by poets who were members of the same circle or club.

  Last poem signed: Nanseishi Shunkin

  Last poem signed: Nanseishi Shunkin

• Provenance

  Hutchinson Collection [1]

  1996

  Sale, London, Sotheby’s, Japanese Prints, Paintings and Works of Art, November 13, 1996, Sale #LN6704, lot 13: “Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850): The First Katsuo of the Season” [2]

  1996

  David Newman, London, purchased at Sale, London, Sotheby’s, Japanese Prints, Paintings and Works of Art, November 13, 1996, Sale #LN6704” [3]

  From 1996

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from David Newman, London [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Sotheby’s, London auction catalogue for Sale#LN5704, the hanging scroll was previously in the collection of Hutchinson.

  [2] See object file, Collections Management Office.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of Japan (July 14, 2012 to January 13, 2013)

  Seasons: Arts of Japan (February 5, 2011 to January 13, 2013)

  Selections from the Japanese Collection (March 22 to November 29, 1999)

  Untitled Exhibition, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands, 1982 (1982)

  Untitled Exhibition, Singer Museum, Laren, 1975 (1975)

  Untitled Exhibition, Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden, 1968 (1968)

  Untitled Exhibition, Kunstzaal Plaats, The Hague, Netherlands (1962)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Joshua Hutchinson Hutchinson (ca. 1829-1891)

  Sotheby's (London)

  David Newman

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1850s, 1680s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Sotheby's (London), Newman, David, Hutchinson, Joshua Hutchinson

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Surimono, Art, Fishes, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Poetry, Wisteria, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings