The Day Before the Beginning of Spring c. 1790

This color woodblock print, “The Day Before the Beginning of Spring,” was made by Katsushika Hokusai, a hugely influential artist in Japan. It depicts a scene from the annual Setsubun festival, when families ritually cleanse their homes of bad fortune. This print offers insight into the socio-religious practices of 19th-century Japan. We see a woman scattering beans to ward off evil spirits, symbolized by the red demon mask at which she is aiming. This domestic ritual reflects the broader Shinto and Buddhist beliefs prevalent at the time. Hokusai's work often captured scenes of everyday life, connecting the viewer to the cultural values embedded in community celebrations. In this period the Tokugawa shogunate enforced strict social hierarchies and conservative values, this image represents a form of folk culture that subtly affirmed the collective values of community and family. To understand this print more fully, we can explore historical texts about Japanese folk traditions. The meanings we attach to art are always contingent on their place in society, and careful study of cultural context helps us unlock those meanings.