Hokusai Manga

small is beautiful Explore the sketches of seminal Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in this collection of over 900 illustrations

Explore the sketches of seminal Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in this collection.

Editor Kyoko Wada Publisher Thames & Hudson Price £25 Web www.thamesandhudson.com Available Now

Originally published over 200 years ago, the first volume in a 15-book series of Katsushika Hokusai’s drawing manuals, known as Hokusai Manga, would go on to become a bestseller. And as this condensed collection shows, public appetite for the artist’s work is still going strong.

Broken down into three pocketsized volumes (each one measures 11x15cm), this collection covers illustrations of Edo Life, The Wonders Of Nature and Flights Of Fancy. Taken from original copies of Hokusai’s drawing manuals, also known as an etehon, the art in this book is as crisp as the original woodblock printings.

Each volume opens with a preface to provide some context, and closes with a Q&A for further insight. Readers also learn about the state of publishing at the time and how Hokusai’s pictures relate to Japanese society.

The range of subject matter in these books is the main draw, as they give an insight into Hokusai’s immense talent. Everything from cooking utensils to demons are depicted with a unique character that, just as they did upon their first release, will fascinate casual readers and scholars of the artist.

The collection features black and white artwork with only a pinky orange serving as a contrast colour.

Katsushika Hokusai’s skill at storytelling is evident, such as in this artwork of a samurai riding a warthog – backwards, of course!