Katsushika Hokusai

Roger Keyes explains that this print is the third state, reissued in oban size, of an original surimono in long-horizontal format. He speculates that the use of the word ryochu (on a journey) in the artist's signature may mean that the print was designed after Hokusai had made a trip along this section of the Sumida River. In this truncated design the landmark "Rendezvous Pine tree" has been cropped on the right, and key and color blocks altered. Notably, a grey block in the sky is added to indicate snow although the boatmen remain dressed for warmer weather. (See The Art of Surimono: Privately published Japanese woodblock prints and books in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, vol. 1 (London: Philip Wilson Publishers, Ltd. and Sotheby Publications, 1985), no. 173 and fig. 10.)