Katsushika Hokusai
Japanese Print Making
About Katsusika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai was born in October or November of 1760 in the Edo district of Japan. When he was 12 he worked with his Father at his bookshop. When he turned 14 he was an apprentice to a wood carver. At 18 he was accepted into a printmaking school. He had two sons and three daughters. His youngest daughter became an artist also. Around 1820 he was at the peak of his career. He published 36 views of Mount Fuji and the Great Wave. In 1839 a fire destroyed his studio he started becoming less popular because there were younger artists that were gaining popularity.
The Great Wave Off Kanawaga
This piece can be found at th Library of Congress in Washington D.C. www.ukiyo-e.org
Timeline of the 1750s through 1830s
This is the timeline of the 1700s when Katshushika was born.
Japan
The Edo region of Japan is now present day Tokyo
Katsushika Hokusai
The Great Japanese Printmaker
Katsusika Hokusai was a great printmaker. It takes a lot of time to master printmaking and he enjoyed every day when he was learning. There are many jobs to create a piece. You need to have a sketch, then a block copiest has to make it sharper and a block carver pastes the work face down so the lines are able to be seen. Once you can see the lines you need to cut with a sharp knife on the lines so the color can be filled in. Katsushikas stly is of landscape printmaking he uses line to make youe eye move to different parts of the painting without you even noticing your doing it. This is Katsushika Hokusai.
Boy on Mt.Fuji
This is one of his 36 views of Mt.Fuji. www.katsushikahokusai.org.
Shower Below the Summit
This is another one of his 36 views of Mt.Fuji.www.katsushikahokusai.org
South Wind at Clear Dawn
This is a print of Mt.Fuji during his time of popularity.www.katsushikahokusai.org