Color on silk
Hanging scroll
Signed Gakyojin Hokusai, sealed Tokimasa
84.3�~25.4cm

In his late thirties under the name Sori, Hokusai made his mark as an extraordinary bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) artist through illustrations for kyoka-ehon ( comic tanka verses book) and surimono wood block prints. This work represents Hokusai's technique from the Sori style period. The drawing is said to have been produced in the Kyowa era (1801-1804) when color on silk was a rare medium.
The depiction of the willow tree and the embankment shows practiced skill, exploiting Hokusai's artistic prime. Subtle innuendoes of an early summer day after the rain is reflected in the balanced distribution of color and the folded umbrella carried by the geisha.

*Click image for a further enlargement of this work.