Who painted 仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)?

仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan) was painted by Katsushika Hokusai.

Where can I see 仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)?

仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)?

仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan) is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)

Katsushika Hokusai

仏手柑図|Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan) is an ink painting by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1851, this silk painting by Katsushika Hokusio depicts a solitary branch bearing a cluster of Buddha’s‑hand citron fruits.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1851, this silk painting by Katsushika Hokusio depicts a solitary branch bearing a cluster of Buddha’s‑hand citron fruits. The composition is restrained, set against a muted green‑gray backdrop, with a few slender twigs extending from the main stem. The work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The focal point is the unusual citron, whose finger‑like segments and uneven surface have long been associated with Buddhist symbolism of prayer and protection. By isolating the fruit, the artist invites contemplation of its form and the spiritual resonance traditionally attached to the plant in East Asian culture.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink and color on silk, the painting employs fine brushwork to render the texture of each bump and curve. The delicate gradations of yellow‑orange against the subdued background illustrate the Edo‑period emphasis on meticulous surface detail and a restrained palette typical of Japanese still‑life conventions.

History & Provenance

The piece was completed toward the end of Hokusai’s long career and entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings in the early twentieth century through a private donation. Its provenance reflects the growing Western interest in Japanese prints and paintings during that period.

Context

In the mid‑nineteenth century, Japanese artists increasingly explored botanical subjects, responding to both domestic aesthetic trends and the influx of foreign collectors. Hokusai’s rendering of the Buddha’s‑hand citron aligns with this broader fascination with natural forms rendered with scientific precision.