Artwork

百人一首乳母か縁説素胜法師|Poem by Sōsei Hōshi, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

百人一首乳母か縁説素胜法師|Poem by Sōsei Hōshi, 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 is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

It features ink and color on paper, characteristic of ukiyo-e publishing practices of the time, and is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This woodblock print is part of the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse, a late Edo-period illustrated collection pairing classical waka poetry with narrative scenes. Though attributed to Katsushika Hokusai in error, the print was actually produced by Utagawa Kunisada around 1835–1836. It features ink and color on paper, characteristic of ukiyo-e publishing practices of the time, and is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a poem by Sōsei Hōshi, a Heian-period monk, reflecting on impermanence and quiet solitude. Two figures traverse a winding path toward a body of water, one carrying red-wrapped items—possibly ritual offerings. Distant buildings and mountains frame the scene, evoking a pilgrimage or contemplative journey. The imagery aligns with the poem’s theme of transience, rendered through subtle human presence within an expansive natural setting.

Technique & Style

The print employs fine linework and layered color washes typical of ukiyo-e, with ink defining contours and pigments suggesting atmospheric depth. Foreground figures are rendered with greater naturalism, while the landscape recedes into stylized, flattened planes. The deep blue sky and textured brushwork in the foliage demonstrate the printer’s skill in achieving tonal variation. These techniques reflect the mature phase of Edo-period commercial printmaking, prioritizing clarity and emotional resonance over strict realism.

History & Provenance

Produced between 1835 and 1836, the print was published as part of a popular illustrated series commissioned by a Tokyo-based publisher. Though often misattributed to Hokusai due to stylistic similarities, it is the work of Kunisada, a leading ukiyo-e artist of the time. The print entered The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in the early 20th century, following broader Western interest in Japanese prints after the Meiji Restoration.

Context

The series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse reimagined the classical Hyakunin Isshu anthology for a broad urban audience, blending literary tradition with accessible visual storytelling. Illustrated by leading artists, each print paired a poem with a scene meant to evoke its mood. These works circulated widely as affordable art, reflecting the Edo period’s flourishing print culture and the public’s appetite for poetic and visual refinement.

Legacy

Though not as widely recognized as Hokusai’s landscapes, this print exemplifies the enduring influence of classical poetry in Edo visual culture. Its production highlights the collaborative nature of ukiyo-e—poets, artists, carvers, and publishers working in tandem. Today, it remains a key artifact in understanding how literary heritage was reinterpreted for everyday viewers, bridging aristocratic tradition and popular taste in 19th-century Japan.