Woman and Snow Cock, with poems by Yomo no Utagaki (Magao) and an associate Possibly 1801

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this intimate woodblock print by Hokusai, the famed artist who lived between 1760 and 1849. It's entitled "Woman and Snow Cock, with poems by Yomo no Utagaki (Magao) and an associate", and you can find it right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The first thing I notice is the stillness, a quiet almost meditative mood. The colors are muted, soft browns, whites, and golds, lending a fragile quality. It’s like a fleeting winter dream. Curator: Hokusai masterfully integrates text and image, with two poems cascading down the composition. The woman’s downward gaze directs us to the snow cock, a symbol deeply rooted in Japanese art. Editor: That snow cock is fascinating. It’s subtle, almost hidden amidst the snowy landscape. Is it meant to represent something specific in relation to the woman, perhaps vulnerability or hidden beauty? Curator: The snow cock symbolizes perseverance, a resilience against harsh conditions. Paired with the woman's pensive mood, it suggests an inner strength, a quiet determination to weather life's storms. Editor: It’s like a hidden dialogue between her inner world and the symbolic landscape. There is such a quietness, and a lot to read between the lines.