1836
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Poem by Emperor Tenchi, from the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse is a 1836 by Katsushika Hokusai, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows a serene autumn landscape with rice farmers and travelers. The story behind it is interesting: it's based on a poem by Emperor Tenchi. The poem tells of the emperor taking shelter in a rice farmer's hut during a storm, feeling sympathy for the common people. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849).
This autumn landscape with rice farmers and travelers is from Katsushika Hokusai’s series of prints inspired by the anthology One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets ( Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki ). While traveling through the countryside, like the two figures in the center, a sudden storm forced the Emperor Tenchi (reigned 661–72) to take shelter in a rice farmer’s hut. The experience produced tears of sympathy for the common people toiling under heavy burdens and living in rough, flimsy homes. The poem at the upper right next to the cartouche reads: Lying on the rough Mats of rice-harvest…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
See the richer artist page
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