Gezicht op Enoshima 1821

Totoya Hokkei created this print of Enoshima in Japan in the early 19th century using woodblock printing techniques. The image is striking because it depicts the island view through a circular frame, an unusual framing device that emphasizes the picturesque quality of the scene. Enoshima was a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination during the Edo period. Hokkei's print captures the allure of this location, but its design also signals the rise of a commercial print market catering to a broader audience. Tourist guides were becoming increasingly common, and the circular frame may reference this institutional context. To fully appreciate Hokkei's work, research into the social history of tourism and the development of the Ukiyo-e print market is essential. These resources reveal how artists like Hokkei negotiated the shifting landscape of artistic production and consumption in Japan.