Titelblad van de shungaserie De Adonisplant c. 1815 - 1823

This title page by Katsushika Hokusai was made in Japan as part of a series of prints. The series has a title in Japanese which translates to "The Adonis Plant". While the image may appear to simply be a page of text, it reflects significant aspects of Japanese cultural and artistic traditions. Calligraphy, which is the art of beautiful writing, has long been revered in Japan as a high art form. The visual elements of the characters, their flow and balance, are all carefully considered. During Hokusai's time, Japan was undergoing social and political changes, with increasing urbanization and the rise of a merchant class. Artists like Hokusai catered to this new audience by producing affordable and accessible prints. Close examination of historical texts and the study of Japanese social history help to understand the place of such artworks in their original context.