Katsushika Hokusai

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa
From "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji"
1823-29
Color woodcut
10 x 15 in.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Katsushika Hokusai: Ukiyo-e printmaker and painter. Initially trained to engrave and cut woodblock prints but at the age of 18 also learned to design actor prints from Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-92). Later he adopted a more western style under the influence of Shiba Kokan (1747-1818). Hokusai had an enormous output of about 30,000, in general highly original prints, paintings, sketches and book illustrations on a variety of subjects. Most famous for his landscapes. Very popular were his manga, books of sketches for art students and his 'Thirty six views of mount Fuji' in which his knowledge about Oriental and western art come together. A three volume book with 'One Hundred views of mount Fuji', produced at the age of 75 would have a major influence on European art.


- From The beauty & the actor: Ukiyo-e