Morning after the Snow at Koishikawa in Edo - Katsushika Hokusai

A classic woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, depicting a snowy morning in Edo with a view of Mount Fuji.

Morning after the Snow at Koishikawa in Edo is a woodblock print from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Katsushika Hokusai produced this series during the Edo period, a time when travel within Japan became increasingly popular among the merchant class. The print depicts a group of people gathered on the veranda of a house in the Koishikawa district, observing the snow-covered surroundings.

The composition balances the domestic scene with the distant, iconic form of Mount Fuji. Hokusai uses a limited palette, dominated by the Prussian blue pigment that became available to Japanese artists during this era. This colour provides a stark contrast to the white of the snow, which is achieved through the paper itself. The architectural lines of the house provide a geometric counterpoint to the organic shapes of the snow-laden trees and the mountain peak.

In the foreground, the figures are rendered with minimal detail, yet their postures convey a sense of quiet contemplation. The rooflines of the neighbouring houses are blanketed in white, creating a sense of stillness and cold. The sky transitions from a deep blue at the top to a lighter hue near the horizon, a technique known as bokashi, which adds depth to the print. This work demonstrates Hokusai's ability to capture atmospheric conditions and the relationship between human activity and the natural world. The series remains a primary example of the technical skill involved in ukiyo-e printmaking, requiring multiple blocks to achieve the final image. This print offers a view into the daily life of Edo, framed by the presence of Japan's most famous mountain.