Katsushika Hokusai "Chrysanthemums and a Horsefly"

Chrysanthemums, which bloom around October and November, symbolize nobility and refinement. In this series, Hokusai sought not only to depict flowers and birds but also to convey the sense of wind, air, and the passage of time in nature. This print portrays four to five different types of chrysanthemums in meticulous detail, capturing both the front and back of the blossoms, with complex colors that give the flowers a sense of weight and richness. At the same time, the horsefly in flight reflects Hokusai’s thoughtful design, offering the viewer a moment of lightness and breath amidst the dense composition.

Hokusai’s dynamic and layered depiction of chrysanthemums and the interplay of flora and fauna can also be seen as an influence on later artists, including Vincent van Gogh, whose iconic Sunflowers show echoes of Hokusai’s careful attention to floral form, texture, and vibrant composition.

葛飾北斎「菊花に虻」
Katsushika Hokusai, Kikuka ni Abu