Hokusai

Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) (1760-1849) was an Edo period Japanese artist, painter, wood engraver and ukiyo-e maker, born in Edo (now Tokyo). Author of the 13-volume sketchbook Hokusai manga (begun in 1814) and the block prints "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," (created around 1823-1829), which includes "The Great Wave at Kanagawa." He is considered one of the outstanding figures of the ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world" (everyday life), school of printmaking. Hokusai is also renowned for his erotic prints in shunga style. His "Fukujusô", a series of twelve prints celebrating the glory of flesh and passion, is considered one of the three greatest shunga works. His art was an important source of inspiration for many European impressionists like Claude Monet.

Works

Hokusai had a long career, but he produced most of his important work after the age of 60. His most popular work is ukiyo-e series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (富嶽三十六景 Fugaku Sanjūrokkei), which was created between 1826 and 1833.

Related Topics:
Ukiyo-e - Mount Fuji - 1826 - 1833

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It consists of 46 images (10 of them added later), but he produced outstanding pictures of almost every kind of subject - flowers, birds and scenery from legends and everyday life.

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The largest of Hokusai's works is the 15-volume collection Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), a book crammed with inventive sketches and was published from 1814. Its caricatures are often considered the precedent to modern manga.

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Some ukiyo-e from Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji:

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image:hokusai-fujibig.png|1st in the series, Beneath the Great Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa

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image:hokusai-fuji7.png|2nd in the series, Red Fuji

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image:hokusai-fuji9.png|45th in the series, Travellers Crossing the Oi River

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Color on silk?Hanging scroll:

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image:hokusai-fuji-koryuu.png|The Dragon of Smoke escaping from Mt Fuji

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• The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife (erotic)