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Introduction

Hokusai's Sketchbooks

May 22 - July 25, 1992

Hokusai was perhaps the most prolific print artist of his day and remains one of the most popular, both in Japan and the U.S. During his lifetime, his reputation was established equally by his single-sheet prints and his designs for book illustrations. Today, Hokusai's book illustrations are apt to be overlooked because of his enormous reputation as a print designer. Hokusai's work published in book format include not only illustrations to novels and poems but sketches and drawings that were to be appreciated on their own. Such books as the Manga (or sketchbooks) and the various gafu (albums of drawings) had no accompanying text or narrative intent.

Hokusai was well-known in his day for his innumerable, spontaneous sketches and ink line studies. These ink drawings were sometimes preparatory sketches for print, while others were merely studies of figures and objects. Many of these ink sketches were eventually published in book form as part of Manga. On view are a selection of both books and drawings that show Hokusai's versatile genius, as well as document the life, lore, and custom of Edo Japan.

Selected Objects

No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 7, 1812-1849

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 8, 1812-1849
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Illustrated dances of the east: Vol. 2, spring 1802

Katsushika Hokusai

Matsuchizan, spring 1802

Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai's picture book: Vol. I, 1800s

Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai's picture book: Vol. II, 1875
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 6, Bunkwa 14, 1817

Katsushika Hokusai

Bird and flower, published spring 1832

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川 国芳

Head of Woman, published spring 1832

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 5, 1812-1849
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 2, Bunkwa 13, 1816
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 11, before 1834

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 1, 1814

Katsushika Hokusai

Illustrated Chinese verses: Vol. III, 1880
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Illustrated Canon of Filial Piety (Ehon Kōkyō): Vol. 2, ca. 1880
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 10, Bunsei 2, 1819
No Image Available

Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 12, Tenpô 5, 1834

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 3, 1812-1849

Katsushika Hokusai

Canary and Herbaceous Peony (Shakuyaku kanaari), ca. 1834

Katsushika Hokusai

Canary and Herbaceous Peony, ca. 1834

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 4, 1812-1849
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 9, 1812-1849

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 13, Kaei 2, 1849

Katsushika Hokusai

Cover design for Isobe's illustrated book Snow-blown Chains of Fate (Hana fubuki en no shigarami), published spring 1832
No Image Available

Katsushika Hokusai

Illustrated dances of the east: Vols. I and II, 1880's

More objects +

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