Overview
Best known for his iconic print Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as the Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai was a revolutionary printmaker. His mastery of ukiyo-e in the nineteenth century has inspired generations of artists since, and his works exposed the world to the delicate beauty and power of Japanese woodblock technique. In addition to his remarkable artistic output, Hokusai was also a dedicated teacher who sought to pass down his deep understanding of color and painting to practicing artists through immensely detailed written tutorials. Here, for the first time in centuries, are excerpts from his manuals, many available for the first time in English. It is an invaluable insight into the psyche of a true master, and a rare personal account of an artist’s life during a fascinating period in Japan’s history. Connecting Hokusai’s prints from the Edo period to manga, author Ryoko Matsuba foregrounds Hokusai’s contributions to Japanese creative expression from the 1800s to today. Also included in this book: Vincent Van Gogh’s letter about Hokusai’s Great Wave and the contemporary artist Ikeda Manabu’s concise observations about Hokusai’s lasting influence.
Mad about Painting collects beautiful new translations of Hokusais painting tutorials and related essays written by the artist and his peersa selection made available in English for the first time.
"Even the most technical corners of art history can awe. From the reliably excellent ekphrasis series at David Zwirner, this pocket paperback humanizes a forbiddingly mythical figure, the Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai. Newly collected and translated here, the painting manuals he dictated near his death in 1849 (dictated, as Hokusai was not literate) contain, despite their strict instructional nature, surprising delights..." The New York Times
Best known for his iconic print Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as the Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai was a revolutionary printmaker. His mastery of ukiyo-e in the nineteenth century has inspired generations of artists since, and his works helped introduce the world to the delicate beauty and power of the Japanese woodblock technique. In addition to his remarkable artistic output, Hokusai was also a dedicated teacher who sought to pass down his unique understanding of color and painting to practicing artists through immensely detailed written tutorials and manuals, many of which are excerpted here, in English, for the first time.
Connecting Hokusais prints from the Edo period to contemporary Japanese art, the scholar Ryoko Matsubas introduction foregrounds Hokusais contributions to Japanese creative expression from the 1800s to today. Also included in this book is the contemporary artist Ikeda Manabus concise observations about Hokusais lasting influence. This volume offers invaluable insight into the psyche of a true master, and a rare personal account of an artists life during a fascinating period in Japans history.
"Even the most technical corners of art history can awe. From the reliably excellent ekphrasis series at David Zwirner, this pocket paperback humanizes a forbiddingly mythical figure, the Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai. Newly collected and translated here, the painting manuals he dictated near his death in 1849 (dictated, as Hokusai was not literate) contain, despite their strict instructional nature, surprising delights..." The New York Times
Best known for his iconic print Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as the Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai was a revolutionary printmaker. His mastery of ukiyo-e in the nineteenth century has inspired generations of artists since, and his works helped introduce the world to the delicate beauty and power of the Japanese woodblock technique. In addition to his remarkable artistic output, Hokusai was also a dedicated teacher who sought to pass down his unique understanding of color and painting to practicing artists through immensely detailed written tutorials and manuals, many of which are excerpted here, in English, for the first time.
Connecting Hokusais prints from the Edo period to contemporary Japanese art, the scholar Ryoko Matsubas introduction foregrounds Hokusais contributions to Japanese creative expression from the 1800s to today. Also included in this book is the contemporary artist Ikeda Manabus concise observations about Hokusais lasting influence. This volume offers invaluable insight into the psyche of a true master, and a rare personal account of an artists life during a fascinating period in Japans history.
- | Author: Katsushika Hokusai
- | Publisher: David Zwirner
- | Publication Date: May 09, 2023
- | Number of Pages:
- | Language:
- | Binding: Paperback / softback
- | ISBN-13: 9781644230879
- | ISBN-10: 1644230879
