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)

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus, the legendary Japanese artist best known for his iconic *Great Wave off Kanagawa created this vibrant woodblock print around 1835 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). Titled *Poem by Ise, from the series One Hundred Explained by the Nurse (akunin isshu uba ga etoki)*, it belongs to a popular ukiyo-e series that interprets the classic anthology *Hyakunin Isshu*. This collection of 100 waka poems by renowned poets from across Japanese history was a cultural staple, often recited in games and gatherings. In this print, Hokusai illustrates a poem by the 10th-century court lady...

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...