Six immortal poets preparing for the Tanabata festival
- Date:
- n.d.
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print; oban
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
The six immortal poets of the Rokkasen — celebrated figures from Heian-era verse — are depicted in a lively scene of preparation for the Tanabata star festival, held on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. The oban-format print offers an irreverent, genre-inflected view of these canonical literary giants, a characteristic mode of Hokusai's playful relationship with classical culture.
More Prints by Katsushika Hokusai
Empress Jito (Jito Tenno) from the series
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Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks)
19th century
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Fukuroi
1804
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The Fishermen of Katase Hauling in Their Nets: The Purple Shell (Murasakigai)
1821
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban
More Summer Prints
Bull Festival at Koryuji
広隆寺牛祭
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February (The Annual Festival of the Fushimi Inari)
二月 (伏見稲荷大社祭)
second half 20th century
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July (Gorgeous Procession of Yama-hoko or the Floats at the Gion Festival)
七月 (祇園祭山鉾巡行)
second half 20th century
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August (The Bonfire Festival of the Daimonji Hill Viewed from the Sanjo Bridge)
八月 (三条大橋より大文字)
second half 20th century
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Frequently Asked Questions
Six immortal poets preparing for the Tanabata festival was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) in n.d..
Six immortal poets preparing for the Tanabata festival depicts summer.