Fuji Musume, the Wisteria Maid
18th–19th century
Medium
Ink on paper
Dimensions
12 1/8 x 5 5/8 in. (30.8 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Annette Young, in memory of her brother, Innis Young, 1956
Accession Number
56.121.39
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Fuji Musume, the Wisteria Maid*, delicate ink painting on paper by the legendary Japanese artist Katsushika Hai, created during the Edo period (5–1868). just 12⅛ × 5⅝ inches, this intimate work the ethereal grace of its titular subject—a mythical maiden associated with Mount Fuji and cascading wisteria blossoms.okusai, renowned for ukiyo-e woodblock prints like *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*, here showcases his mastery of sumi-e (ink wash) techniques, blending fluid brushstrokes to evoke movement and serenity in a compact format suited for personal appreciation or albums. Produced in t...
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...