Artwork
葛飾北斎画 菊に雀|Sparrows and Chrysanthemums
葛飾北斎画 菊に雀|Sparrows and Chrysanthemums is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sparrows and Chrysanthemums is a woodblock print created by Katsushika Hokusai around 1825. It is a still life composition featuring a bird and a flower.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two sparrows interacting with a chrysanthemum: one perches on a bent stem, while the other is in mid-flight. The arrangement showcases the artist's attention to the relationship between the natural elements.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by carving lines into a woodblock, which was then printed multiple times. The technique is evident in the bird's wing, where carved grooves create tiny white dots by holding ink and transferring it to the paper, leaving the desired white space.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
