It is well-known fact that Hokusai changed his art names many times, about 30 times. The seals present on each work gives us some clues when a print or painting was produced. In this image, the signature on the right edge is read as ‘Kakou’, indicating that this print was created between 1799 and 1810 when Hokusai was in his 40s.

The theme is from the famous kabuki program 'Futatsu chouchou kuruwa nikki' (双蝶々曲輪日記). The lovers, courtesan Azuma and Yogoro, are tenderly embracing each other while seated in the alcove in front of a window. Through the window bars, trees covered with thin layers of snow are seen. This is a time long before window glass was introduced to Japanese houses, yet the lovers appear entirely unaffected by the cold.