Bamboo Grove at Kumemura c. 1832

Katsushika Hokusai produced this woodblock print, Bamboo Grove at Kumemura, using ink and color on paper. It depicts a scene in Kumemura, a village known for its bamboo groves. Looking closely, the image shows the harmonious relationship between the built environment and the natural landscape. The houses and buildings are nestled amongst the bamboo, coexisting peacefully with the river. Hokusai was a key figure in popularizing the style known as ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” which became popular during the Edo period in Japan. This artistic movement coincided with a time of economic growth and cultural development, and ukiyo-e prints were accessible and enjoyed by a broad audience. We can read this image today through the lens of environmentalism, noting its subtle commentary on the beauty of nature. But to fully appreciate its meaning requires understanding the social and economic conditions of its creation. We turn to historical sources, such as trade records and accounts of urban life, to explore that context.