{"product_id":"candles-of-aizu-totoya-hokkei","title":"Candles of Aizu - Totoya Hokkei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined surimono woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei, depicting traditional Aizu candles with delicate floral patterns and accompanying poetry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei belongs to the genre of surimono, which were privately commissioned works often exchanged among poets and connoisseurs. Hokkei, a student of Katsushika Hokusai, became a master of this refined format. The composition depicts the specialised candles produced in the Aizu region, presented within their storage boxes. The artist employs a delicate touch, focusing on the material qualities of the objects: the patterned paper wrapping, the wooden texture of the boxes, and the stylised floral motifs adorning the candles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurimono prints are characterised by their high production quality, frequently utilising expensive pigments, metallic powders, and embossing techniques. In this piece, the balance between the calligraphic text and the still-life arrangement is precise. The poem integrated into the design suggests a seasonal association, likely referencing spring through the floral imagery. The composition avoids excessive clutter, allowing the viewer to appreciate the subtle geometry of the boxes and the rhythmic repetition of the patterns on the candle wrappers. The use of muted, earthy tones combined with soft reds creates a sense of understated elegance typical of the Edo period's sophisticated urban culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHokkei demonstrates his technical skill through the clean lines and the careful placement of the objects within the pictorial space. The print serves as a record of regional craft, elevating a utilitarian object into a subject of aesthetic contemplation. By focusing on the specificities of the Aizu candles, the artist invites the viewer to consider the intersection of daily life and artistic expression. This print remains a fine example of the collaborative nature of surimono, where visual art and literature function as a single, unified experience for the recipient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nihonbashi-morning-scene-utagawa-hiroshige-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNihonbashi: Morning Scene - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lantern-float-kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eLantern Float - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hokkei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485950808399,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485953003855,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485953036623,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485953069391,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485953102159,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485953134927,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485953167695,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485953200463,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485953233231,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485953265999,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485953298767,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485953331535,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Candles-of-Aizu_Poster_CompositorV1_1786370046467.jpg?v=1786846881","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/candles-of-aizu-totoya-hokkei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}