The artwork, titled “An older woman hits another woman with her shoe,” is a genre painting by the renowned artist Katsushika Hokusai. It belongs to the Ukiyo-e art movement, which flourished in Japan from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Genre paintings within this movement often depict scenes from daily life, reflecting the customs, practices, and human interactions of the time.
In this particular artwork, two women are the central figures. The older woman is shown in a dynamic posture, raising her shoe to strike the other woman. The scene is set against a background of trees and a distant landscape, adding depth to the composition. The figures are adorned in traditional Japanese garments with intricate patterns, enhancing the visual richness of the piece. Hokusai’s use of line work is evident, creating delicate textures and detailed expressions. This piece exemplifies Hokusai’s skill in capturing both the intensity of human emotion and the beauty of everyday life in Edo-period Japan.
