Artwork Description

Title: Citrouille (Ⅰ)
Artist: Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929)
Date: 2000
Medium: Print on paper
Dimensions: 18.5 x 16.1 in (47 x 41 cm)

Artwork Identification
Citrouille (Ⅰ) is a visually arresting print by the celebrated Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Executed in a limited palette of gold, black, and white, the composition features Kusama’s signature pumpkin motif rendered with her instantly recognizable polka dot pattern. Framed and professionally presented, the work exemplifies the artist’s balance of meticulous structure and hallucinatory repetition. The piece exudes both decorative richness and symbolic gravitas, showcasing the stylized organic geometry that defines Kusama’s celebrated visual language.

Artistic Style and Influences
Kusama’s Citrouille (Ⅰ) is firmly rooted in her long-standing thematic obsession with repetition, organic form, and infinity. The pumpkin—frequently portrayed by the artist since the 1980s—is more than a simple gourd; for Kusama, it is a spiritual form of stability, warmth, and self-portraiture. The polka dots, which cover the surface in a dizzying but organized field, serve as metaphors for both the microscopic and the cosmic, the dissolving of self into pattern. The print draws clear parallels to Op Art and Minimalism, yet remains wholly distinct in its psychological and symbolic underpinnings.

Historical Context
By the time Citrouille (Ⅰ) was conceived, Kusama had already re-established herself as a central figure in global contemporary art, following early critical success in 1960s New York and a major resurgence beginning in the late 1980s. Her return to Japan in the 1970s marked a period of intense introspection and studio productivity, leading to the mature phase of her practice during which the pumpkin became a central icon. This work reflects Kusama’s continued engagement with themes of mental health, identity, and self-obliteration, offering an elegant and intimate window into her larger universe of mirrored rooms, infinity nets, and immersive installations.

Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The print is in excellent condition, with no visible signs of fading, discoloration, or structural damage. The paper remains clean and well-preserved behind protective glass. The frame is stable and shows only minor wear. No restoration or conservation interventions are evident, and the surface is unmarred by creasing, foxing, or handling marks.

Artistic Significance
Citrouille (Ⅰ) exemplifies Yayoi Kusama’s ability to distill deeply personal and psychological themes into a graphic language that is both universal and instantly iconic. The pumpkin, with its whimsical contour and spiritual resonance, has become one of contemporary art’s most beloved and recognizable symbols. This print captures the artist’s enduring commitment to pattern, symbol, and repetition, and serves as an accessible yet profound example of Kusama’s vision. As demand for her work continues to grow globally, Citrouille (Ⅰ) stands as a refined and enduring expression of Kusama’s infinite world.