DISCOVERART

Katsushika Hokusai

A Peasant Crossing a Bridge, from the series A True Mirror of Chinese and Japanese Poems

late 1830s
Color woodblock print; nagaban
50 × 23.2 cm (19.7 × 9.1 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

An old peasant returns from gathering the two bundles of horsetail rushes, which hang from a pole across his shoulder. Of the various poems about gathering rushes in the old anthologies, it is thought that Hokusai had in mind this poem from a 1303 collection: When I was cutting horsetails The autumn moon appeared Shining through the trees On Mount Sonahara. (Translated by Matthi Forrer) In this series of ten prints, the relevant poem was not included in the design. Instead, the artist challenged the Edo audience’s love of puzzles. Viewers enjoyed determining the source of a poem and its author.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Katsushika Hokusai

冨嶽三十六景　身延川裏不二|View from the Other Side of Fuji from the Minobu River (Minobugawa ura Fuji), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)冨嶽三十六景　身延川裏不二|View from the Other Side of Fuji from the Mino諸國名橋奇覧　かうつけ佐野ふなはしの古づ|Old View of the Boat-bridge at Sano in Kōzuke Province (Kōzuke Sano funabashi no kozu), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)諸國名橋奇覧　かうつけ佐野ふなはしの古づ|Old View of the Boat-bridge at Sano in 百人一首　乳母かゑとき　猿丸太夫|Poem by Sarumaru Dayū, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)百人一首　乳母かゑとき　猿丸太夫|Poem by Sarumaru Dayū, from the series One 琉球八景　筍崖夕照|Evening Glow at Jungai (Jungai sekishō), from the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei)琉球八景　筍崖夕照|Evening Glow at Jungai (Jungai sekishō), from the 琉球八景　粂村竹籬|Bamboo Hedge at Kumemura (Kumemura chikuri), from the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei)琉球八景　粂村竹籬|Bamboo Hedge at Kumemura (Kumemura chikuri), from Togetsu Bridge at Arashiyama in Yamashiro Province (Yamashiro Arashiyama no Togetsukyo), from the series "Unusual Views of Famous Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyo kiran)"Togetsu Bridge at Arashiyama in Yamashiro Province (Yamashir琉球八景　中島蕉園|Banana Garden at Nakashima (Nakashima shōen), from the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei)琉球八景　中島蕉園|Banana Garden at Nakashima (Nakashima shōen), fromThe Back of Mount Fuji Seen from Minobu River (Minobugawa Urafuji), from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)The Back of Mount Fuji Seen from Minobu River (Minobugawa Ur

More like this

The Rush Gatherer, from the series A True Mirror of Chinese and Japanese PoetryKatsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849) — The Rush GathererBeauties Harvesting Bracken, from the series Gekkō’s MiscellaneyŌgata Gekkō (Japanese, 1859–1920) — Beauties Harvesting BracThe Noji Jewel River in Omi Province (Omi Noji no Tamagawa), from the series "Six Jewel Rivers in Various Provinces (Shokoku Mu Tamagawa)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Noji Jewel River in Omi Province (OmHakone: Night Procession in the Mountains (Hakone, sanchu yagyo no zu), no. 11 from the series "Famous Sights of the Fifty-three Stations (Gojusan tsugi meisho zue)," also known as the Vertical TokaidoUtagawa Hiroshige — Hakone: Night Procession in the MountainSagami River (Sagamigawa), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige — Sagami River (Sagamigawa), from the seriThe Minister Toru Daijin Standing by a Lake Beneath a Crescent Moon, from the series A True Mirror of Chinese and Japanese PoetryKatsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849) — The Minister ToruIshibe, from the series "Fifty-three Stations [of the Tokaido] (Gojusan tsugi)," also known as the Figure Tokaido (Jinbutsu Tokaido)Utagawa Hiroshige — Ishibe, from the series "Fifty-three StaThe Noda Jewel River in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Noda), from the series "Six Jewel Rivers in the Various Provinces (Shokoku Mu Tamagawa)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Noda Jewel River in Mutsu Province (The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo IITorii Kiyomitsu I — The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo IIChofu Jewel River in Musashi Province (Musashi Chofu), from the series "Six Jewel Rivers (Mu Tamagawa no uchi)"Utagawa Hiroshige — Chofu Jewel River in Musashi Province (MScattered Pines on the Tone River (Tonegawa Barabara-matsu), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige — Scattered Pines on the Tone River (TonegThe Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Ogata no Sabura (?) in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770Katsukawa Shunsho — The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Ogata no