Hokusai Prints

Katsuhisa Hokusai, a Japanese artist born on 31 October 1760 in what is now present-day Tokyo, is primarily known for his ukiyo-e painting style during the Edo period. He is most famously renowned for authoring the woodblock print series entitled Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which was inspired by Hokusai’s love for the infamous volcano and a rise in local travel around Japan. Hokusai learned how to create woodblock prints during his time working as a wood-carving apprentice at Katsukawa Shunsho’s studio. The ukiyo-e style of painting portrayed actors and popular figures in Japanese culture during this period of time. While he saw a long career, the majority of his most well-known work was completed after the age of 60.

Hokusai began learning how to paint at age six. It is assumed he learned from his father who painted designs around mirrors. Hokusai had over thirty names during his lifespan, which was common for Japanese artists of this era, and had more pseudonyms than any other artist. His first prints were under the pseudonym Shunro, which was given to him by his master. This set was published in 1779 and depicted Kabuki actors.

Hokusai had a magnificent career until his later years of life when younger artists began stepping up, and a fire destroyed most of his work in his studio in 1839. Nevertheless, he continued painting and completed his final work at age 87. He always strived to become a better painter and never gave up on himself. His career spanned an incredible 70 years before he died on 10 May 1849.