百人一首　うはかゑとき　源宗于朝臣|Poem by Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

Art Historical Context

This enchanting woodblock print by Katsushika Hokus, created around 1835 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), a poem by the 10th-century courtier Minamoto no Muneyuki A from the renowned anthology *Hyakuninhu* (One Hundred Poems). Titled *U wa kaeru toki* ("When the warbler returns"), it the poignant image of spring's arrival amid lingering winter snow on mountain peaks—a theme beautifully visualized here through a snowy landscape with trees and figures, likely including men evoking the poem's reflective mood. Part of Hokusai's series *Hyakunin Isshu uba ga etoki* ("One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse"), the prints feature an elderly nursemaid narrating the classic waka poems to children, blending literature and visual storytelling for popular audiences. Hokusai, a master of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), revolutionized woodblock printing with his bold compositions, intricate details, and vibrant inks layered on paper. This 9⅞ × 14½-inch sheet exemplifies his skill in capturing nature's drama—snow-laden branches and serene figures—using the collaborative ukiyo-e process of carving and printing by specialists. Culturally, *Hyakunin Isshu* remains a cornerstone of Japanese poetry, inspiring games like karuta and enduring in art, making Hokusai's accessible illustrations a bridge between Heian-era elegance and Edo-era mass culture. (198 words)

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...