Agaat 1822

Katsushika Hokusai made this woodblock print, entitled ‘Agaat,’ in Japan, though we can’t be sure exactly when. This print shows us the kinds of precious objects that would have been displayed in elite homes during Japan’s Edo period. We see coral, a scholar’s rock, and what appears to be a pearl. All are arranged on ornately decorated stands and cloths. The arrangement of objects like this would have been part of the culture of display that developed as the merchant class grew in wealth and influence. Prints like this, which are part of the “surimono” tradition, would have been privately commissioned, often to mark special occasions. Understanding the cultural value of objects like those depicted here helps us understand the print’s original context. It also makes us think about the role of institutions, like the art market, in creating and distributing those cultural values. We can use sources like trade records, auction catalogs, and inventories of estates to find out more about the display culture of Hokusai’s time.