The Lunar New Year is here, and with it comes the Year of the Snake—the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac and a creature long associated with wisdom, mystery, and transformation. Those born under this sign are said to have a magnetic charm, a deep intuition, and a talent for strategy. With their keen minds and elegant poise, they move through life with quiet confidence—watchful, graceful, and always one step ahead.
To celebrate, we’ve put together a striking selection of snake-themed prints, spanning different artistic traditions. From the fluid elegance of Japanese woodblock prints to the symbolic grandeur of European painting and the meticulous precision of 19th-century natural science illustrations, this collection is as diverse as the serpent’s many mythologies. Whether you’re drawn to their symbolism or simply love bold and intricate design, these prints are the perfect way to welcome the new year in style.
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1. Memorial Anniversary
Katsushika Hokusai’s Memorial Anniversary (Shunen) is a haunting yet mesmerising work from his One Hundred Ghost Tales series (Hyaku Monogatari). A snake coils tightly around a memorial tablet (ihai), a striking image that blends traditional Japanese folklore with supernatural symbolism. While snakes in Japanese culture often represent renewal and transformation, here the creature embodies lingering malevolence—an unshakable presence that persists beyond death. Nearby offerings and a ritual bowl of water reinforce the print’s connection to ancestral rites, while a Buddhist manji on the bowl, a signature motif in Hokusai’s work, hints at deeper spiritual themes. With his masterful composition, Hokusai creates a print that is both unsettling and deeply evocative—a perfect piece to mark the Year of the Snake.
2. Snake
Kono Bairei (1844–1895) was a master of kacho-e, a genre that celebrated the beauty of nature in exquisite detail. His Snake (c. 1890) is a striking example of this tradition, depicting a coiled serpent poised in a moment of quiet intensity. The intricate patterns of its scales, rendered with meticulous precision, highlight Bairei’s deep observational skill and reverence for the natural world. While Western depictions of snakes often evoke danger, in Japanese art, they are more complex figures—symbols of renewal, protection, and even wisdom. This print captures the snake’s dual nature, both graceful and powerful, making it a fascinating addition to the Year of the Snake’s artistic legacy.
3. Anilius and Slug Eater Snakes
Charles Dessalines d’Orbigny (1806–1876) was a distinguished French naturalist and illustrator, renowned for his meticulous scientific engravings. His Anilius and Slug Eater Snakes is a perfect example of 19th-century natural history illustration—where art and science merged to document the world in stunning detail. The print features two species: the Anilius scytale, or American pipe snake, and the Homalosoma arctiventris, known as the slug eater. With fine, hand-coloured precision, d’Orbigny captures the unique textures and patterns of each snake, presenting them with the same artistry seen in traditional paintings. While scientific in intent, the composition highlights the intrinsic beauty of these often-overlooked creatures, making it a fascinating addition to our collection of snake-inspired prints.
Snake Coiled Around a Pine Tree, by Keisai Eisen
4. Snake Coiled Around a Pine Tree
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), best known for his elegant bijin-ga (portraits of beautiful women), also produced exquisite ukiyo-e prints that explored nature and symbolism. His 1821 surimono print, Snake Coiled Around a Pine Tree, is a striking example of this. A white snake wraps itself around the strong, weathered trunk of a pine tree, its form sharply contrasted against a glowing sunrise. In Japanese culture, white snakes are seen as auspicious beings, often associated with the deity Benzaiten, while the pine tree symbolizes longevity and resilience. The metallic pigments Eisen used—including brass and silver—give the print a subtle, shimmering quality, enhancing its mystical aura. With its themes of renewal and endurance, this artwork is a perfect tribute to the Year of the Snake.
The Snake Charmer, by Henri Rousseau
5. The Snake Charmer
A European departure from the traditional Eastern and scientific depictions in this collection, Henri Rousseau’s The Snake Charmer (1907) offers a strikingly imaginative take on the serpent’s mystique. Commissioned by Berthe, Comtesse de Delaunay, this was Rousseau’s first major commission and remains one of his most enigmatic works. Though he never travelled to the tropics, Rousseau built his jungle scenes from a mix of botanical gardens, zoos, and pure imagination. Here, a mysterious woman plays a flute under moonlight, hypnotizing a snake that slithers toward her from the shadows. The composition, described by the Musée d’Orsay as evoking a “black Eve in a disquieting Garden of Eden,” blends folklore and fantasy in a way that feels both otherworldly and symbolic. A fascinating conclusion to this collection, The Snake Charmer highlights the cross-cultural fascination with serpents, from myth to modernity.
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From the spectral coils of Hokusai’s Memorial Anniversary to the dreamlike mystery of Rousseau’s The Snake Charmer, these five prints capture the snake’s many faces—guardian, predator, symbol of wisdom, and harbinger of transformation. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of Japanese woodblock prints, the meticulous detail of scientific illustration, or the bold imagination of European primitivism, there’s no denying the snake’s power to captivate across cultures and artistic styles.
As the Year of the Snake unfolds, why not welcome its energy into your space? These stunning artworks aren’t just conversation pieces—they’re steeped in history, symbolism, and intrigue. Explore our collection and find the perfect serpent to slither onto your walls.
