Harumichi no Tsuraki, thirty-second poet in the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse

1830·Color woodblock print; yoko oban·24.9 × 37.1 cm (9 13/16 × 14 5/8 in.)

The poet Tsuraki was appointed governor of Iki province, near Kyoto, in 920. He composed this poem while crossing Mount Shiga: <blockquote> In a mountain stream. Built by the busy wind, Is a wattled barrier drawn. Yet ‘tis only maple leaves Powerless to flow away. (Translated by Clay MacCauley)</blockquote> Hokusai presents a lovely, clear day drawing to its close. The woodcutters continue their task and a fisherman casts his net where maple leaves are briefly caught in the rush of the mountain stream. A mother pulls her son along, who leads his pet turtle home over the plank bridge.

Catalogue

Year: 1830
Medium: Color woodblock print; yoko oban
Dimensions: 24.9 × 37.1 cm (9 13/16 × 14 5/8 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Katsushika Hokusai

Artist

Katsushika Hokusai

Painting

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker. His woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji includes the iconic print The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Hokusai was instrumental in developing ukiyo-e from a style of portraiture largely focused on courtesans and actors into a much broader style of art that focused on landscapes, plants, and animals. His works had a significant influence on Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet during the wave of Japonisme that spread across Europe in the late 19th century.

Tokyo, Japan

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Poem by Gon-Chunagon Masafusa (Oe no Masafusa), from the series “One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by a Wet Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)”

1921 · Color woodblock print

WW-1921-018489