Nummer twee: een zittende man c. 1830

Totoya Hokkei created this woodcut print, “Nummer twee: een zittende man”, now at the Rijksmuseum, employing soft colors and meticulous lines to define the form of a seated man. The figure is framed within a composition that balances textual elements with visual representation. The structural elements, like the man's striped trousers and the carefully placed text, establish a visual rhythm that guides the viewer's eye across the surface. Hokkei's approach to form reflects a semiotic engagement with the traditional Japanese print. The seated figure can be understood as a signifier, alluding to a broader cultural understanding of leisure and contemplation. The composition invites us to consider how meaning is constructed not just through what is depicted, but how it's depicted. The piece challenges a singular interpretation, inviting ongoing dialogue between artwork and viewer.