Horse Shells (Umagai), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
21.3 × 18.6 cm (8 7/16 × 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81631
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of-period Japan with *Horse Shells (Umagai)*, a delightful color woodblock print by legendary Katsushika Hokusai from his 1822 series *A Selection Horses (Uma-zuk)*. Hokusai, a master of uki-e—the "pictures of the floating world"—captured everyday life, nature, and whimsy with unparalleled skill. This intimate shikishiban-format print (a square 21.3 × 18.6 cm) showcases his playful ingenuity, likely blending horse imagery with shell motifs in a punning visual riddle typical of the series, which humorously catalogs horse varieties. Printed as a luxurious *surimono*—...
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...