Ōiso
1804
Hokusai, best known for his iconic Great Wave, captures a lively roadside scene in this 1804 work. Two elegant women, bundled in scarves and hats against the breeze, pause by a tree with red blossoms to watch a porter who is practically disappearing under a comically massive sack. It's a delightful slice of life that highlights the contrast between the leisurely travelers and the backbreaking labor of the locals, rendered in the bold, graphic style of early ukiyo-e. The faded paper and the mysterious red mark in the corner give it that authentic vintage feel of a well-traveled print.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper and pigment