Hokusai: The Master’s Legacy
Making wa ves The work and impact of seminal Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is celebrated in this comprehensive publication
The work and impact of seminal Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is celebrated in this comprehensive publication.
Author Rossella Menegazzo Publisher Skira Price £40 Web www.skira.net Available Now
For a man as dedicated to pursuing artistic greatness as Katsushika Hokusai, it would come as some comfort to learn that his drawings, prints and paintings continue to fascinate casual audiences and students of his art. Such is the status of his creations that it acts as a visual shorthand for an entire country, yet also overshadows the craft and skill of his contemporaries.
Both of these angles are pursued in Hokusai. The Master’s Legacy. Delving deep into ukiyo-e, the movement of Japanese art famed for its depiction of everyday life in which Hokusai made his name, this survey also shines a light on key artist Keisai Eisen, whose beautiful and often misattributed pictures of female courtesans helped bring the scene to a wider audience.
Opening with detailed introductory essays that give a fascinating historical context to the genre, coupled with a look at how the artists involved influenced both each other and the West, these chapters set you up nicely for more than 200 works of ukiyo-e art that chart the development of consummate talents.
Broken down into sections that cover landscapes, seduction, fortune and nature, the rest of the book generously gives each piece of art by Hokusai, Eisen and more a full page to shine. This is a luxuriously presented must-have book for fans of the printmakers and Japonism.