Man in gewaad van bladeren c. 1890 - 1900

Katsushika Hokusai created this print, “Man in Gewaad van Bladeren,” sometime in the 19th century. It presents a figure that unsettles traditional gender roles and societal norms within the Edo period. Note how Hokusai depicts this androgynous figure adorned in leaves, seated in what seems to be a contemplative, almost vulnerable state. What could this leaf-clad being represent? It is tempting to see the figure’s unconventional attire as a statement against the rigid social expectations of the time. The figure is seated in nature, perhaps suggesting an alternative narrative, one of living in harmony with the natural world. The figure almost dares us to consider the artifice of our social structures. This image invites us to reflect on the diverse expressions of identity and being. In doing so, it challenges our assumptions and asks us to imagine a world with broader possibilities for self-definition.