Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)

Formerly attributed to Katsushika Hokusai Japanese

mid-19th century

Not on view

This meticulously rendered painting of an unusually shaped variety of citron, whose fruit is segmented into fingerlike sections, shows the influence of Western botanical studies. In Japanese, this exotic fruit is called busshukan 仏手柑, literally "Buddha’s Hand Citron." Native to the Himalayas, the subject was appreciated by Bunjin (literati) painters, and is the subject of a poem in Chinese “Koto and Buddha’s Hand in Springtime” by renowned historian, poet, and calligrapher Rai San’y (1780–1832).

The painting does not seem to have any connection to Katsushika Hokusai except that it has a seal, rendered in cursive characters and kana that have been deciphered as Katsushika 葛しか. But since the shapes of the characters vary a bit from accepted variants, we can assume the seal was added a later time by a dealer who wanted give added luster to an anonymous painting.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

仏手柑図
Title: Buddha’s Hand Citron (Busshukan)
Artist: Formerly attributed to Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1760–1849 Tokyo (Edo))
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: mid-19th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Matted painting; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: 13 1/2 x 9 5/8 in. (34.3 x 24.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: 29.100.536
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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In the same medium

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Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830–32

Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
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Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries

Hawk at sunrise, Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來 Korean, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Korea — Hawk at sunrise
Attributed to Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來
second half 18th century–first half 19th century

Print, Katsushika Hokusai Japanese, Handcolored woodcut, Japan — Print
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Shō, Bamboo wood, metal, Japanese — Shō
Japanese
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