Masters of Art - Katsushika Hokusai
Page 5
Many of the designs from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji would have been drawn from Hokusai’s imagination or adapted from other ukiyo-e illustrations. The majority of the prints refer to actual locations, yet he often exaggerates the scenes he depicts, enhancing the natural world to fashion a fantastical landscape. However, he employs Western pictorial techniques to ensure the designs retain a sense of realistic detail.
One of the most famous prints from the series is Fuji over the Sea, found in the second volume, once again signalling the artist’s fascination with wave forms. A flock of swallows adds to the wave’s crest of claw-like foam shapes, heightening the sense of drama. Mount Fuji’s peak seems to only just overcome the powerful sway of the sea, though the finely delineated pine trees appear to be almost entirely submerged. This time Hokusai has chosen to remove all human presence from the print, as the dramatic waves appear to rush towards the viewer instead, extending the almighty power of the sea.
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Another design from the series ‘One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji’
Li Bai Admiring a Waterfall
Disaster struck in 1839 as a fire destroyed Hokusai’s studio and much of his work. By this time, his career was beginning to fade, while younger artists such as Utagawa Hiroshige were in the ascendant and popular tastes were turning away from the more bookish and classical themed prints that Hokusai was famous for producing. Nevertheless, in spite of these impediments, Hokusai refused to stop painting, continuing in his work well on into his eighties. Constantly seeking to attain perfection, he is reported to have exclaimed on his deathbed, “If only Heaven will give me just another ten years... Just another five more years, then I could become a real painter.”
Hokusai’s tireless fountain of creativity continued up until shortly before his death. One of his last and most beloved artworks is a hanging silk scroll, painted with ink and colour, which resides today in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Li Bai Admiring a Waterfall is signed as by the “Brush of Manji, the Old Man Mad about Painting, aged ninety”. The scroll had been purchased in 1911 by William Sturgis Bigelow (1850-1926), a well-known American collector of Japanese art. Bigelow was one of the first prominent Americans to live in Japan and, through his donations to the Boston area museums, helped to form the standards by which Japanese art and culture were appreciated in the West. Much of Bigelow’s collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. He went on to deposit many of these objects at the Museum of Fine Arts in 1890, before eventually donating his entire collection to the museum.
Li Bai Admiring a Waterfall is inspired by the famous poem “Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu”, composed by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. The subject had become a popular theme in Chinese and Japanese painting. The most engaging aspect of this very tall artwork is Hokusai’s dramatic portrayal of the falling water. Cascading columns of blue ink wash comprise almost the entire narrow dimensions of the scroll. The precise handling of the foam’s fine spray at the bottom of the waterfall hints at the artist’s lifelong obsession with naturalism. As the poet regards the falling water, his head is completely hidden from our view by his wide brimmed hat, giving a mysterious aura to this legendary poet. A child attendant clings to the poet for protection, imbuing a sense of tenderness to the beautiful scene.
Hokusai died on 10 May 1849 and was buried at the Seikyo-ji temple in Edo, Taito Ward on the following day. Reportedly, a solemn procession of over a hundred people escorted his body to the site of the family grave. Of his recent students, only Yashima Gakutei outlived him by more than a few months. Legend tells that Oi, his artist daughter, retreated from the world, taking to the road as a wandering hermit. However, Hokusai’s legacy would extend and disseminate through his drawing manuals and prints, which continued to circulate after his death at an extraordinary scale in Japan and far beyond its borders. The first international exhibition dedicated to Hokusai — indeed, the first to be entirely devoted to any Japanese artist — was held in 1890 at the Fine Arts Society in London. Three years later, the exhibition Hokusai and His School was organised by Ernest Fenollosa at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and so from there studies of Hokusai’s art enjoyed increased attention in Europe, as avant-garde artists were intrigued and mesmerised by his approach to art.
Hokusai’s prodigious corpus of work embodies the essence of the ukiyo-e school of art during its final years of development. An energetic master, Hokusai rose early each morning and continued painting until well after dark — an enduring regimen of his long and productive life, which saw the publication of countless series of prints and designs. His determined industry, spanning over seventy years of continuous creation, serves as the prototype of the single-minded artist, striving to complete his given task in the endless pursuit of perfection.
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William Sturgis Bigelow by Kobayashi Eitaku, c. 1880
Memorial portrait of Hokusai’s great young rival Utagawa Hiroshige by Kunisada
The Prints
Hokusai spent his later years in Obuse, a small town in the northern Nagano Prefecture, a mountainous, landlocked area in the centre of Honshu; he lived as the guest of Takai Kozan, a wealthy merchant, who was also Hokusai’s patron and student. A collection of Hokusai’s artwork is displayed at the Hokusai Museum at the centre of town, including two local festival floats, with ceilings that Hokusai decorated with a dragon, a phoenix and his signature waves.
Hokusai’s Prints
A large collection of Hokusai’s prints is presented here in series order, with an alphabetical list of print names following immediately after.
CONTENTS
7 Sages for the Shofudai
8 Views of Edo
8 Views of Omi
8 Views of Ryukyu
36 Views of Mt Fuji
53 Stations of the Tokaido
100 Fashionable Comic Verses
100 Ghosts Stories
100 Kyoka Poets
100 Poets Explained by the Nurse
1000 Pictures of the Ocean
Actors
Famous Japanese Bridges
Fan Prints
Hokusai Manga Volume 1
Hokusai Manga Volume 5
Hokusai Manga Volume 10
Landscape Prints in Western Style
Large Nature Images
Large Flowers
Long Surimono
Mirror of Chinese and Japanese Verses
Niwaka Festival Dances
Poetic Immortals
Small Flowers and Sparrows
Snow, Moon and Flowers
Storehouse of the Loyal Retainers
Miscellaneous Surimono
Tour of Japanese Waterfalls
7 Sages for the Shofudai
A Beauty Holding a Cup of Sake
A Beauty Reading a Love Letter
A Beauty Leaning on a Broom
A Beauty Holding a Robe
A Beauty Lifting a Book on her Forehead
A Beauty Seen from Behind
A Beauty Reading a Poem
8 Views of Edo
Sakai Cho
Shinobazu
Suruga Cho
Nihonbashi
Takanawa
Ryogoku
Kannon Temple
Yoshiwara
8 Views of Omi
Autumn Moon at Ishiyama
Clearing Weather at Awazu
Descending Geese at Katada
Evening Bell at Mii
Evening Glow at Seta
Night Rain at Karasaki
Returning Sails at Yabase
Snow at Dusk at Hira
8 Views of Ryukyu
Bamboo Grove at Beison
Banana Garden at Chuto
Clear Autumn Weather at Choko
Night Moon at Izumizaki
Pines and Waves at the Dragon Cavern
Sunset Glow at Jungai
The Sacred Fountain at Castle Peak
The Sound of the Lake at Rinkai
36 Views of Mt Fuji
No. 1 Under the Wave off Kanagawa
No. 2 Fine Wind Clear Weather
No. 3 Rainstorm Beneath the Summit
No. 4 Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa
No. 5 Surugadai in Edo
No. 6 The Cushion Pine at Aoyama
No. 7 Senju in Musashi Province
No. 8 The Jewel River in Musashi Province
No. 9 Inume Pass in Kai Province
No. 10 Fuji View Plain in Owari Province
No. 11 Hongan-ji Temple at Asakusa in Edo
No. 12 Tsukuda-jima in Musashi Province
No. 13 Seven-Mile Beach in Sagami Province
No. 14 Umezawa Manor in Sagami Province
No. 15 Kajikazawa in Kai Province
No. 16 Mishima Pass in Kai Province
No. 17 Lake Suwa in Shinano Province
No. 18 Ejiri in Suruga Province
No. 19 In the Mountains of Tôtômi Province
No. 20 Ushibori in Hitachi Province
No. 21 The Mitsui Shop at Suruga-chô in Edo
No. 22 Viewing Sunset over Ryôgoku Bridge
No. 23 Sazai Hall of the Temple of the 500 Arhats
No. 24 Snowy Morning at Koishikawa
No. 25 Lower Meguro
No. 26 Waterwheel at Onden
No. 27 Enoshima in Sagami Province
No. 28 Tago Bay near Ejiri on the Tôkaidô
No. 29 Yoshida on the Tôkaidô
No. 30 At Sea off Kazusa
No. 31 Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo
No. 32 Sekiya Village on the Sumida River
No. 33 The Coast of Noboto
No. 34 Hakone Lake In Sagami Province
No. 35 Reflection in Lake Misaka
No. 36 Hodogaya on the Tôkaidô
No. 37 Tatekawa in Honjo
No. 38 Fuji Seen in the Distance from Senju
No. 39 Fuji from Goten-yama at Shinagawa
No. 40 Nakahara in Sagami Province
No. 41 Dawn at Isawa in Kai Province
No. 42 Back View of Fuji from the Minobu River
No. 43 The Paddies of Ôno in Suruga Province
No. 44 Fuji from the Tea Plantation of Katakura
No. 45 Fuji from Kanaya on the Tôkaidô
No. 46 People Climbing the Mountain
53 Stations of the Tokaido
No. 1 Nihonbashi
No. 2 Shinagawa
No. 3 Kawasaki
No. 4 Kanagawa
No. 5 Hodogaya
No. 6 Totsuka
No. 7 Fujisawa
No. 8 Hiratsuka
No. 9 Oiso
No. 10 Odawara
No. 11 Hakone
No. 12 Mishima
No. 13 Numazu
No. 14 Hara
No. 15 Yoshiwara
No. 16 Kanbara
No. 17 Yui
No. 18 Okitsu
No. 19 Ejiri
No. 20 Fuchu
No. 21 Mariko
No. 22 Okabe
No. 23 Fujieda
No. 24 Shimada
No. 25 Kanaya
No. 26 Nissaka
No. 27 Kakegawa
No. 28 Fukuroi
No. 29 Mitsuke
No. 30 Hamamatsu
No. 31 Maisaka
No. 32 Arai
No. 33 Shirasuka
No. 34 Futagawa
No. 35 Yoshida
No. 36 Goyu
No. 38 Fujikawa
No. 39 Okazaki
No. 40 Chiryu
No. 41 Narumi
No. 42 Miya
No. 43 Kuwana
No. 44 Yokkaichi
No. 45 Ishiyakushi
No. 46 Shono
No. 47 Kameyama
No. 48 Seki
No. 49 Sakanoshita
No. 50 Tsuchiyama
No. 51 Minakuchi
No. 52 Ishibe
No. 53 Kusatsu
No. 54 Otsu
No. 55 Kyoto
100 Fashionable Comic Verses
Kintoki and Demon
Dance
Water Prank
Snail Race
Thunderstorm
Treating Sore Feets
Pregnant Boy
Temple Bell
The Negociation
LOL
Lion Dancer
Gag on Behalf of Another
Practicing Joruri Singing at Home
Sabre Removal
The Pregnant Young Widow
Applying Moxa
Yam Rubbing
Tugging at a Kite
New Year Celebration
Broom Kick
Sash Pulling
Wrestling Time
Bean Paste Making
Foot Massage
Harvesting
Party Time
The Morning After
Conversation
Smoking Opium
Advice Giving
Dispute over the Contents of a Bag
Stepping on a Board
Martial Art Practice
Loincloth Tugging
Three Way Wrestling
Tea Time
Helping With a Bottle
Prostitute and Client
Gossips
Cantaloupe Tossing
Giving a Bribe
Food Grating Joke
Game Prank
Fun with Vision Glasses
Having a Massage
Cleaning the Well
A Poor Game of Go
Wooden Tubs at the Bathhouse
100 Ghosts Stories
The Ghost of Oiwa
The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji
Memorial Anniversary
Laughing Demoness
The Mansion of the Plates
100 Kyoka Poets
Poet No. 1
Poet No. 2
Poet No. 3
Poet No. 4
Poet No. 5
Poet No. 6
Poet No. 7
Poet No. 8
Poet No. 9
Poet No. 10
Poet No. 11
Poet No. 12
Poet No. 13
Poet No. 14
Poet No. 15
Poet No. 16
Poet No. 17
Poet No. 18
Poet No. 19
Poet No. 20
100 Poets Explained by the Nurse
No. 1 Poem by Tenchi Tenno
No. 2 Poem by Jito Tenno
No. 3 Poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
No. 4 Poem by Yamabe no Akahito
No. 5 Poem by Sarumaru Dayu
No. 6 Poem by Chunagon Yakamochi