The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 17, 2025

Horizontally long print densely covered with white and light pink-purple irises. The irises have thin leaves in green brown shades that narrow to a point. The flowers have some small petals sticking up while larger ones droop down on the sides. The white petals blend into one another, appearing like fluffy clouds winding between the leaves and pink-purple flowers. Only on the far left do arching, long leaves transition into the plain beige paper.

White and Purple Irises

early 1800s

Katsushika Hokusai

(Japanese, 1760–1849)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
color woodblock print
Sheet: 70.5 x 19.8 cm (27 3/4 x 7 13/16 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Ralph King 1943.6
Location: Not on view
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art (10/11/2015 - 1/5/2016); "Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse"
    Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 6, 2015-January 5, 2016).
  • {{cite web|title=White and Purple Irises|url=false|author=Katsushika Hokusai|year=early 1800s|access-date=17 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1943.6