Artwork

百人一首うばがゑとき伊勢|Poem by Ise, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

百人一首うばがゑとき伊勢|Poem by Ise, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1835 by Katsushika Hokusai, this woodblock print belongs to the series that illustrates the poems of the classic anthology known as Hyakunin Isshu. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and presents a compact narrative scene drawn from a poem attributed to the poet Ise.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a bustling rooftop environment where daily activities unfold: a man balances a box on the sloping tiles, another ascends the steep roof, and three women rest beneath a wooden eave. A distant hillside populated by tiny figures suggests a broader community, while a cluster of pink blossoms adds a seasonal reference that echoes the poem’s lyrical tone.

Technique & Style

Hokusai employs the ukiyo-e woodblock method, layering bold pigments—bright reds for the roofs, vivid blues for clothing, and delicate pinks for the flowers—to achieve visual contrast. Simplified forms and clear outlines convey movement, while subtle line work suggests depth, particularly in the tiled roof’s perspective.

History & Provenance

The print was produced as part of the “One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse” series, a popular educational project that paired visual art with classical poetry for a broad audience. After circulating in the Edo period, the sheet entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of Hokusai’s narrative prints.

Context

In early nineteenth‑century Japan, the Hyakunin Isshu poems were widely taught and celebrated, prompting artists to create illustrative series that made the verses accessible to the literate and illiterate alike. Hokusai’s contribution reflects this cultural practice, merging literary appreciation with the commercial appeal of affordable prints.