百人一首　乳母かゑとき　柿本人麿|Poem by Kakinomoto Hitomaro, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus, the legendary ukiyo-e master renowned for *The Great Wave off Kawa*, created this vibrant woodblock print in 9 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). Titled *Poem by Kakinomoto Hitomaro, the series One Hundred Poems by the Nurse (Hyunin isshu uba ga etoki)*, it belongs to a charming series where an elderly nurse narrates and illustrates Japan's famed *Hyakunin Isshu* anthology—a collection of 100 classical waka poems by poets like the 7th-century Hitomaro. This print captures the essence of Hitomaro's verse through a scenic landscape of rolling hills and figures, blending poetry with visual storytelling to make ancient literature accessible to everyday viewers. Hokusai's mastery shines in the woodblock technique, using ink and color on paper to achieve bold, layered hues and intricate details. Measuring just 9⅞ × 14 inches, these affordable prints democratized art during the Edo era's urban boom, fueling a craze for poetry-themed imagery. The composition highlights men amid expansive hills and landscapes, evoking the transient beauty central to ukiyo-e's "floating world" philosophy. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art department (Rogers Fund, 1914), this work exemplifies Hokusai's late-career fusion of nature, narrative, and tradition, offering a window into Japan's poetic soul and enduring love for harmonious design.

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...