The Eastern Journey of the Celebrated Poet Ariwara no Narihira
c. 1806
Medium
Color woodblock print; nagaban surimono
Dimensions
19.6 × 53.1 cm (7 3/4 × 20 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24515
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This picture is based on the ninth scene in Tales of Ise. Finding life uncomfortable in the capital, Kyoto, the poet traveled east with some friends. They took a river ferry near Mount Fuji and saw a flock of strange birds. In answer to their questions, the ferryman replied, “It is a capital bird, of course.” Stopping on the bank, the poet made this request: If you are in truth What your name seems to make you, I will put it to you, Capital-bird, this question: Do things go well with my lov...
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...