​【說明】

中谷宇吉郎是湯川秀樹的摯友，也是日本雪與低溫研究的開拓者。他是寺田寅彥（1878-1935）門生，畢業後長期任職於北海道帝國大學（戰後為北海道大學）。自1932年起專注雪的研究，其實驗室揭示雪結晶的形成機制，並率先成功製造出人造雪。
宇吉郎與秀樹自1938年結識，情誼在1940年秀樹赴北大授課期間更深厚。本作落款於1940年，推測是他們在北海道相聚時所留下。畫中以淡墨呈現雪的輕盈與透明，並以濃墨勾勒冰晶之銳利輪廓。
 

​【Description】

Ukichiro Nakaya was a close friend of Hideki Yukawa and a pioneer of snow and low-temperature research in Japan. A disciple of Torahiko Terada (1878–1935), he spent most of his academic career at Hokkaido Imperial University (renamed Hokkaido University after the war). From 1932 onward, he devoted himself to the study of snow,  elucidating the mechanisms of snow-crystal formation and successfully producing artificial snow for the first time.
Ukichiro and Hideki first met in 1938, and their friendship deepened in 1940 when Hideki traveled to Hokkaido to teach. Inscribed with the date 1940, this work is thought to have been created during their time together in Hokkaido. Rendered in pale ink, the snow appears light and translucent, while darker strokes define the sharp contours of ice crystals.