Poem by Ise, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse - Katsushika Hokusai

A woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai from his series illustrating the Hyakunin isshu poetry anthology, depicting workers on a roof overlooking a rural landscape.

This woodblock print belongs to the series Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, or One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse, a project by Katsushika Hokusai that remained unfinished at the time of his death. The series aimed to illustrate the classic Hyakunin isshu poetry anthology for a popular audience, often by depicting scenes of daily life that relate to the themes of the poems rather than literal interpretations of the verses themselves.

In this composition, Hokusai presents a view of workers repairing a tiled roof. The perspective is elevated, allowing the viewer to look down upon the labourers while simultaneously observing the surrounding rural environment. The scene captures the contrast between the domestic activity on the rooftops and the distant, quiet expanse of the fields and river. The colour palette relies on muted tones, with the blue of the roof tiles and the river providing a consistent visual thread across the frame. The sky is rendered with a subtle gradient, a technique Hokusai mastered to suggest the transition of light at dawn or dusk.

Technically, the print demonstrates the precision of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The lines are clean and controlled, defining the architectural forms of the buildings and the figures of the workers. The composition is balanced, using the diagonal lines of the roof to guide the eye toward the horizon. Hokusai avoids excessive detail, preferring to focus on the clarity of the narrative and the spatial relationship between the foreground activity and the background scenery. This work provides a glimpse into the social and physical environment of the Edo period, documenting the labour and architecture of the time through the lens of a master printmaker. The inclusion of the poem in the cartouche connects the visual imagery to the literary heritage of Japan, bridging the gap between high culture and the everyday experiences of the common people.