Poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro - Katsushika Hokusai

A woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai depicting labourers at work, from his series interpreting classical Japanese poetry through scenes of daily life.

This woodblock print belongs to the series Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, or One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by an Old Nurse. Katsushika Hokusai produced this ambitious project during the 1830s, though it remained unfinished at the time of his death. The series interprets classical Japanese poetry through the lens of everyday life, often depicting the labour of common people rather than the courtly figures found in the original literary source. In this specific composition, Hokusai illustrates the poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, which speaks of the mountain pheasant's long tail and the loneliness of sleeping alone. Hokusai subverts the melancholic tone of the verse by focusing on the physical exertion of workers. A group of men pulls a heavy load up a steep, grassy incline, their bodies angled against the slope. A plume of smoke rises from a fire in the foreground, drifting upwards to mirror the shape of the mountain peak behind them. The colour palette relies on deep blues, earthy browns, and soft ochre tones, characteristic of the artist's mature period. The print demonstrates Hokusai's mastery of spatial arrangement and narrative detail. The figures are rendered with dynamic posture, conveying the strain of their task. The inclusion of the thatched hut and the surrounding vegetation provides a sense of place, grounding the scene in a rural setting. Hokusai uses the smoke as a visual device to connect the foreground activity with the distant mountain, creating a sense of depth across the composition. This work offers a glimpse into the daily routines of the Edo period, presented with the technical precision of a master printmaker. The balance between the human element and the natural environment remains a hallmark of Hokusai's approach to the genre.