Hokuei

More about the book

An enigmatic figure in Osaka ukiyo-e prints, Hokuei produced more masterworks than any contemporary artist in the Kyoto-Osaka (Kamigata) region. This richly illustrated publication features prints primarily from the John Fiorillo collection, the most extensive of Hokuei's works. It offers a comprehensive overview of the artist's life and career within Kamigata print production, including a section on fifty-six meticulously researched and well-preserved prints. Hokuei's prints vividly bring the world of kabuki to life, while assessments of design and technical attributes highlight the achievements of Hokuei and his contemporaries. A fully illustrated and annotated catalogue raisonné documents the artist's 270 prints, with several unique designs from the Fiorillo collection. Appendices delve into various aspects of Hokuei's work, including print formats, figure types, deluxe printings, woodblock-printed books, and details about his students, signatures, seals, publishers, block-cutters, printers, kabuki theaters, and printmaking processes. The depth and breadth of information make this publication an invaluable reference for scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts of Osaka prints, Hokuei, and the kabuki world.