Jongeman wegrijdend van huis 1832 - 1836

Katsushika Hokusai created this woodblock print, titled Jongeman wegrijdend van huis, or Young Man Leaving Home, using ink and color on paper. Prints like these had a wide appeal during the Edo period. The Tokugawa shogunate's rigid social hierarchy influenced artistic production and consumption. Hokusai, though, often depicted everyday life, challenging the established norms of art that usually celebrated the elite. This print shows a young man riding away from his home, set against an idealized landscape. What does this departure signify? Perhaps a journey of self-discovery, a break from familial expectations, or an attempt to make a new life in a new place? To understand this image more fully, researchers might consult period literature, travel guides, or even economic records. We come to appreciate how art like this reflects and comments on the social structures of its time.