Travelers in Snow by Hokusai

Artist: Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

Woodblock Prints Title: Traveler in Snow, from the series A True Mirror of Chinese and Japanese Poetry (Shika shashin kyō), also called Imagery of the Poets featuring The Chinese Poet Su Dongpo

1st Publication: 1833

Size: 20-1/4 x 8-3/4 + Margins as shown

Date of this edition: 1833

Publisher: Moriya Jihei (Kinshindō)

Carver: Unknown

Condition: Multiple pin holes, 4 repaired wormholes, including two bigger ones (In the title, the other one between the last foot of the horse, and the second traveler up in the snow). Some very mild foxing. Very good colors and impression, very good overall condition.

Notes: This print is the most sought after in that very scarce series of 10 prints called A mirror of Chinese and Japanese Verses, a series of large vertical format. Snow scenes from Hokusai are extremely rare.

Hokusai combined landscape with the human figure. He used famous poets portrayed in the literary or real life episodes. It is a masterpiece of the amalgamation of the human spirit with nature. Travelling on his horse, the Poet Su Shi (AKA Su Dongpo) and his servant contemplate the ocean on top of the famous red cliff covered by the falling snow, traditionally thought to be the place where the general Cao Cao (155-220) suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of his enemies.

This impression is similar to the one from the Museum of fine art as seen below :
MFA's Version
or from the Victoria's Museum in Australia : HERE

Pictures: Pictures are taken outdoor, in the shade, to reflect true colors, without any enhancements of any kind. The last picture is taken indoor, with a light behind the print, to reveal the exact paper grain, holes if any, or other potential flaws. A second set of pictures were taken in the sunlight, with a white board on the background, to reveal the actual toning. Please, note that once again, absolutely no enhancement of any kind were made on the pictures. The camera used to take the pictures is an iPhone 4.