The Seven Herbs (Nanakusa), with Scissors and Teacup

Art Historical Context

Teisai Hokuba's *The Seven Herbs (Nanak), with Scissors andacup* is a 19th-century colorblock print, measuring just 21.2 × .5 cm, exemplifying the intimate artistry of ukiyo-e tradition As a pupil of the renowned Katsika Hokusai, Hokuba mastered the vibrant, techniques of woodblock printing layering colors and subtle textures to capture everyday poetry. This surimono luxurious, privately commissioned print often produced for New Year's celebrations—highlights Hokuba's skill in blending whimsy with refinement, typical of Edo-period (1603–1868) print culture. The title evokes the cherished Japanese custom of *nanakusa no sekku*, held on January 7th, when seven spring herbs are gathered and simmered into a symbolic porridge for purification and health in the new year. Here, the herbs are playfully depicted alongside scissors—perhaps for trimming them—and a teacup, infusing the scene with domestic charm and seasonal ritual. Surimono like this were prized for their exclusivity, sometimes featuring embossing or mica for a tactile glow, making them treasured keepsakes shared among poetry circles or patrons. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print offers a window into Japan's fading woodblock era before photography's rise, celebrating nature's renewal through Hokuba's elegant hand. A perfect gem for contemplating tradition's quiet beauty!

About the Artist

Teisai Hokuba · 1771–1844

Teisai Hokuba (1771–1844) was a Japanese artist of the Edo period who worked in the tradition of ukiyo-e, the celebrated school of woodblock prints and paintings that depicted the floating world of urban pleasure, theater, landscape, and daily life. A devoted pupil of Katsushika Hokusai — one of the towering figures in the history of Japanese art — Hokuba adopted the prefix of his master's name as...