Katsushika Hokusai – Ukiyo-e artist and an icon of Japan

Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎(c. October 31, 1760 – May 10, 1849) known simply as Hokusai, was one of Japan’s foremost Ukiyo-e artists. His masterpiece is considered the series of landscape paintings “ Fugaku sanjurokkei ” or “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” as well as his collection of model drawings for his disciples known as “ Hokusai Manga ”.

He was known for his longevity, which was rare at the time, as he reached the age of 90. His iconic paintings were what shaped the Impressionist movement in Europe, in artists such as Van Gogh.

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Hokusai produced his first print in 1779 at the age of twenty under Katsukawa Shunshō, a master ukiyo-e artist who became popular for his realistic portraits of kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers.

He built his career creating more prints of actors at the Katsukawa art school, although he mainly devoted himself to illustrating books. Hokusai also produced paintings throughout his life, and his works surpassed those of other ukiyo-e masters in terms of quality and quantity. By the time he was 30, he was already known for his unique style, which distinguishes him from the Ukiyo-e school.

When he turned 50, he created a book of prints that could be used as a model for his disciples and for anyone who wanted to learn to paint. The scope of Hokusai’s image models would gradually expand to become a collection of designs for craftsmen. The compilation of these drawings was the first edition of ” Hokusai Manga “, which would leave its name for posterity.

Around 1820, his well-known series ” Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji ” came out and is considered one of the most famous works in the world and an outstanding example of ukiyo-e landscapes. His paintings ” The Great Wave off Kanagawa ” and “Red Fuji” are part of this series, created around 1830. As the title of the series suggests, 36 works were originally published, but since the series was so popular, they added 10 to create a series of 46 works.

In this series, Mount Fuji appears in each piece and each view is so different that you never tire of admiring them. Hokusai incorporated various artistic techniques into the series, such as “aizuri-e” in which the prints are only shades of blue. Around the time the series was created, Mount Fuji was attracting many groups of pilgrims, and miniature versions of Mount Fuji were built around the city of Edo. This was the social trend that led to the creation of “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” and made it a huge success.

In another of his series of prints, Hokusai depicts spectacular close-up views of flowers, insects, and animals that attracted the interest and admiration of European artists in the second half of the 19th century. The animated forms of the flowers seem to be full of vital energy and even spiritual power. These designs also inspired world-famous art and craft studios such as Baccarat and Lalique in France and used Hokusai’s “Flowers and Birds” designs on their products.

Another well-known series is also the ” Famous Bridges in Various Provinces ” series which was published around the same time as ” Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji ” and ” Waterfall Tour in Various Provinces ” It is a collection of ukiyo-e prints representing bridges from all over the country. Currently, 11 designs in the series have been confirmed. For this series, Hokusai not only studied the actual bridges and locations, but also let his imagination run wild to create seductive scenes that stimulate the viewer to travel. For example, ” The Suspension Bridge at the Border of Hida and Etchu Provinces ” shows a bridge that would be too unstable to cross if it really existed, as it collapses under the weight of two people. It suggests a tightrope act and showcases Hokusai’s offbeat and playful nature. Instead of serving as a guide to places of interest, Hokusai takes the theme of bridges to travel into a world of his own imagination to create these masterpieces.

With his work, Hokusai influenced Impressionist artists such as Van Gogh and Henri Rivière. The latter created his series “36 views of the Eiffel Tower” and is considered one of the greatest examples of the influence of Japanese art in the West.