百人一首　うばがゑとき　伊勢|Poem by Ise, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus's *Poem by Ise, from the series Hundred Poems Explained by the* (1839) is a woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868). Part of Hokusai's *Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki* series, it illustrates a waka poem by the 10th-century court lady Ise from the famed anthology *Hyakunin Isshu*, compiled in the 13th century byiwara no Teika. collection of 100 poems by as many poets became a cornerstone of Japanese literature, inspiring games like uta-karuta and countless artworks. In the "uba ga etoki" ("old nurse's picture explanations") tradition, an elderly nursemaid vividly recounts the poems to wide-eyed children, blending education with storytelling. Hokusai, the ukiyo-e master behind *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*, captures this with his signature bold lines, intricate color layering via woodblock printing, and dynamic composition. Here, tags evoke a lively scene of men and women working amid buildings, likely evoking the poem's evocative imagery through everyday Edo life. Measuring about 10 by 14 inches, this affordable ink-and-color print on paper democratized art for the masses, showcasing Hokusai's genius for perspective and narrative at age 79. A gem of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, it bridges classical poetry with popular visual culture.

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...