Narcissus in Winter, from the series "Choicest Odes upon Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shuku awase, shiki no hana)"

Narcissus in Winter, from the series Choicest Odes upon Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shuku awase, shiki no hana), is a 1787 Katsukawa Shuncho print held by the Art Institute of Chicago, dedicated to the cool elegance of the suisen, the Japanese narcissus that flowers in the depth of winter. Shuncho's series pairs each season with a flower and a verse, so the narcissus carries here a particular weight of seasonal symbolism: an unobtrusive, even austere bloom whose pale white and yellow tones suggest stoicism and purity in cold months. Katsukawa Shuncho organizes the composition around the figural presence of Edo bijin-ga women, while the narcissus and the accompanying verse anchor the literary register. The figures show the tall, dignified bijin-ga proportions characteristic of late Tenmei era ukiyo-e, with Shuncho applying the Katsukawa school's careful contour and balanced color to a quieter palette appropriate for winter. The contrast between the patterned vibrancy of the women's kimono and the spare botanical motif is one of the print's quiet pleasures. Shuncho had trained under Shunsho in an atelier best known for kabuki actor prints, but by 1787 he was working comfortably across bijin-ga formats, including this kind of poetry-paired series. The Shuku awase, shiki no hana set flattered Edo customers who appreciated the connection between contemporary visual fashion and older Japanese poetic traditions. Held in Chicago, this Narcissus in Winter sheet is an excellent example of how Katsukawa Shuncho married floral subject, verse, and figural elegance within a single Tenmei era ukiyo-e composition.