New Year's Day of the Year of Snake c. 19th century

This woodblock print titled “New Year's Day of the Year of Snake” by Katsushika Hokusai, a renowned Japanese artist, depicts a minimalist scene of a pair of shears and a delicate arrangement of cherry blossoms on a dark red platform. The simplicity of the composition and the delicate brushstrokes are characteristic of Hokusai's later works, known for their expressive beauty and subtle details. The inscription in the upper left corner, written in Japanese, suggests this print is part of a series celebrating the arrival of the New Year and the year of the snake.