The life of a master
Katsushika Hokusai is regarded as one of the most influential and creative
minds in the history of Japanese art. His unique social observations,
innovative approach to design and mastery of the brush made him famous in
Edo-period Japan and globally recognised within a decade of his death.
He created the monumental Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji both as a
response to a domestic travel boom in Japan and as part of a personal
obsession with Mount Fuji. It was this series, specifically The Great Wave off
Kanagawa and Fine Wind, Clear Morning, that secured his fame both in
Japan and overseas. While Hokusai's work prior to this series is certainly
important, it was not until this series that he gained broad recognition.
Starting as a young child, he continued working and improving his style until
his death, aged 88. In a long and successful career, he produced over
30,000 paintings, sketches, woodblock prints, and images for picture books
in total. Innovative in his compositions and exceptional in his drawing
technique, Hokusai is considered one of the greatest masters in the
history of art
