Exhibitions
Hokusai Manga and the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
2019.04.19(Fri) - 2019.05.22(Wed)
Overview
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), a legendary artist of the Edo period, was actively engaged in many art genres such as kyōka ehon (illustrated books of humorous poems), yomihon (novels), etehon (art manuals), nishiki-e (brocade pictures) and brush paintings for over 70 years. His works reached even Europe during his lifetime to high acclaim, and the Hokusai Manga in particular is accredited to have inspired Japonism.
The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji is one of Hokusai’s most celebrated works, published by Nishimura Eijudō in around 1831. Backed by the Mount Fuji fever of the epoch, it enjoyed immense success for the extraordinary compositions and impressive color rendering such as imported rare Berlin Blue. The series includes details that appear to benefit from the Hokusai Manga, in depiction of people, compositions, etc.
The exhibition presents the entire series of 46 prints and offers an interesting perspective of the Hokusai Manga as a reference.
THE GREAT WAVE OFF KANAGAWA Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) ca.1831, Edo period Woodblock, Nishiki-e
◆Highlights
- A complete 15-volume series of Hokusai Manga—with many model drawings
With the first volume published in 1814, the Hokusai Manga was created initially as a textbook for his apprentices, but unexpected popularity prompted further 14 volumes to follow. The motifs cover almost everything that can be drawn, from people and buildings to landscapes, animals, birds, trees and plants. His extraordinary talent in depiction permeates these sketches of characters and objects, some of them humorous.
Hokusai Manga
- The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji collection in full view
The iconic mountain of Japan, Fuji, is depicted in each of the 46 prints that comprise the series, with varying expressions in different seasons, perspectives and weather conditions. The exhibition presents a rare compete collection in its entirety, including the famous South Wind, Clear Sky, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and Rainstorm Beneath the Summit from the Museum collection, offering an opportunity to thoroughly enjoy the finesse and fine details of the prints.
THUNDERSTORM BELOW THE SUMMIT Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) ca.1831, Edo period Woodblock, Nishiki-e
- Reflections of Hokusai Manga in the Views of Mount Fuji
Motifs in the Hokusai Manga are found here and there throughout The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, some of them identical and others with some new arrangements. A horseback traveler found in the original volume of the Hokusai Manga is found on the Tōkaidō Highway.
A horseback traveler found in the original volume of the Hokusai Manga is found on the Tōkaidō Highway.
A man with a carrying yoke is found in Surugadai in Edo, admiring Mount Fuji in the same posture as in the Hokusai Mnaga.
Paper and umbrella blown away and people standing against gusty winds are also found in Ejiri in Suruga Province with some arrangements.