Traveler on Horseback under Bloomed Cherry Tree c. 1790s

Katsushika Hokusai created this woodblock print, "Traveler on Horseback under Bloomed Cherry Tree," which is currently located in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Hokusai lived during the Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity in Japan when there was an increased focus on domestic affairs and artistic development. In this print, we see travelers on horseback moving through a landscape dotted with cherry blossoms, which are deeply symbolic in Japanese culture, representing the transient nature of life and the beauty of the natural world. The figures are anonymous, almost archetypal. They remind us that travel was an integral part of the social and economic fabric of Edo-period Japan. The traveler and his groom make their way across the paper. In his work, Hokusai often explored themes of nature and humanity's relationship to it, reflecting a reverence for the environment. However, he was also interested in the mundane reality of Japanese people at work and at leisure. His work shaped, and continues to shape, societal perceptions and values. These prints offer us an emotional connection to a shared past.