Minneapolis Institute of Art

Ryūdō

Totoya Hokkei

Date

1833

Medium

Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper with silver, gold, and embossing

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Located off Shōnan Beach, Enoshima Island was accessible via a land bridge at low tide. Housing a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, a goddess of music, the island attracted people who liked to combine travelling with religious pilgrimage. Because of its proximity to the capital city of Edo-about thirty miles away-Enoshima was particularly popular among urban residents. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides, this spot afforded a magnificent view of Mount Fuji and became a popular picnic site. The artist, Hokkei, included a group of people sitting on a red blanket, joyfully eating and drinking together. From his sixteen-print series Trip to Enoshima Island, this print depicts the final destination of such a trip-the island and its mysterious Ryūdō, dragon cave, shown in the lower right. The red border was added later and is not part of the original print. Japan, Asia

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