Old View of the Boat-bridge at Sano in Kōzuke

Hokusai learned the art of the woodblock carving at a young age, before studying drawing and printing. From 1812 on, he travelled through Japan and published many collections of prints. This image is from the 11-print series published in the 1830s entitled Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces. A horseman and travellers on foot cross the boat-bridge in winter. The whiteness of the snow is set off by the Prussian blue of the river, and a snow-covered mountain landscape fills the background.