Twee vrouwen, een man en een kind zoeken schelpen c. 1890 - 1900

This woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei depicts a family gathering seashells. Note how the figures are arranged; they are participating in a seemingly mundane activity, yet are imbued with an air of timelessness. Consider the seashells themselves – humble objects, yet carriers of vast symbolic weight. Throughout history, shells have been associated with birth, regeneration, and pilgrimage. We can see echoes of this in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", where the goddess emerges from a scallop shell, a symbol of divine birth. The motif evolves, taking on new forms. In Hokkei's print, the child collecting shells mirrors a primal act of gathering, deeply connected to the earth and our origins. Think of the emotional resonance of this simple act – a family together, seeking treasures from the sea, an image that connects us to our ancestors and their struggles for survival. This is no mere genre scene; it is a visual echo resonating through the ages.