Obsession c. 1831 - 1832

This woodblock print, 'Obsession' by Hokusai, presents us with a potent array of symbols. Dominating the composition is a snake, coiled around a funerary object, a teacup, and a stone tablet. The snake, historically a symbol of healing and transformation, takes on a darker meaning, hinting at temptation, death, and the entanglements of earthly desires. Notice the swastika on the teacup. This ancient symbol, long predating its appropriation by malign ideologies, represents cosmic harmony, a visual echo of cyclical existence and the eternal flow of energy. In Hokusai's Japan, it could be seen in temples signifying good fortune and well-being. Yet, its presence here, entwined with symbols of mortality, creates a powerful tension. The Japanese word 執念 (Shūnen) translates into obsession. It speaks to the human condition, the inescapable dance between life and death, order and chaos, forever embedded in our cultural memory.