Dandelions and clovers beneath cherry tree
c. 1807
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
37.9 × 41.2 cm (14 15/16 × 16 1/4 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81220
Art Historical Context
Katsushika Hai created this delicate colorblock print around 7, during the height of his early career as a master of ukiyo-e. The work is a surimono, a privately commissioned print often produced for poetry circles or special occasions. These prints were prized for their refined technique and luxurious details, setting them apart from more commercial ukiyo-e sheets. The composition captures a quiet moment beneath a cherry tree, where dandelions and clovers carpet the ground. Cherry blossoms, symbols of fleeting beauty in Japanese culture, add a layer of poetic resonance. Hokusai’s careful ren...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...