In the Cargill Gallery, this rare pairing explores the cross-cultural inspirations behind two legendary artists’ floral masterpieces
January 14, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) announces opening of Hokusai | Monet, a captivating exhibition exploring the connection between Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan’s most renowned artists, and French Impressionist Claude Monet. In the Cargill Gallery from February 8 through August 10, 2025, this exhibition presents a rare opportunity to view Monet’s Massif de chrysanthèmes (1897), on loan to Mia from a private collection, alongside Hokusai’s untitled Large Flowers series (created between 1833 and 1834).
Curated by Galina Olmsted and Mai Yamaguchi, Hokusai | Monet showcases the profound influence of Japanese art on Monet’s decorative floral paintings. Focusing on a single masterpiece from Monet and a single series from Hokusai, the exhibition elevates these works while offering visitors an intimate lens through which to consider the cross-cultural exchange that shaped modern art.
“Hokusai | Monet presents a rare opportunity to exhibit Monet’s painting alongside the prints that were generative to his thinking about decorative floral paintings,” said Katie Luber, Mia’s Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director & President. “The timing of the exhibition’s run will overlap with our beloved Art in Bloom event, creating a unique synergy that invites visitors to experience the beauty and influence of these extraordinary works in new and meaningful ways.”
In 1897, Monet created four paintings of chrysanthemums in his garden at Giverny. Breaking from the tradition of depicting flowers in vases, he painted them en plein air as they grew. The resulting works, including Massif de chrysanthèmes, showcase expressive use of space and bold compositions reminiscent of Hokusai’s Large Flowers. A collector of Japanese prints, Monet ownedseveral examples from the series and his fascination with Hokusai’s dramatic compositions and unexpected perspectives is evident in Massif de chrysanthèmes.
“Monet was an avid collector of Japanese prints, and his artistic experimentation in the 1890s was shapedbyHokusai’s innovative work,” said Galina Olmsted, Associate Curator of European Art. “This exhibition gives visitors a chance to consider his chrysanthemums alongside highlights from Mia’s extraordinary collection of prints by Hokusai.”
Little is known about Hokusai’s Large Flowers series—nicknamed in the West for its striking close-ups of flowers like chrysanthemums, poppies, hydrangeas, and morning glories.
Published in two sets of five prints, these works featured bold compositions and bright colors that captivated European artists like Monet. The 1830s marked a period of experimentation for Hokusai–even as he entered his seventies, he explored new avenues of compositions while working on traditional subjects.
“Hokusai’s approach to depicting flowers was unprecedented, almost as if he were creating portraits of each bloom,” added Mai Yamaguchi, Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Curator of Japanese and Korean Art. “Hokusai was drawing on Chinese models of bird and flower paintings when he was designing this series. The novel compositions in these prints inspired a newwayofseeingandinterpreting nature, which resonated deeply with Monet.”
Art in Bloom
Coinciding with Mia’s annual Art in Bloom event, Hokusai | Monet provides a unique opportunity to connect with the local community through floral-inspired programming. The exhibition’s timing encourages audiences to appreciate the intersection of art and nature through the lens of two iconic artists.
Exhibition Details
● Exhibition Title: Hokusai | Monet
● Dates: February 8–August 10, 2025
● Location: Cargill Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art
● Cost: Free
For more information on Hokusai | Monet and other upcoming exhibitions, visit ArtsMia.org.
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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit new.artsmia.org.