Hokusai Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Born in 1760 in Edo (present-day Tokyo), Hokusai exhibited a fascination with art from an early age. Apprenticed to a wood-carver as a teenager, he swiftly moved into the world of Ukiyo-e under the tutelage of Katsukawa Shunshō. His early works, primarily actor and sumo prints, already showed signs of the genius that was to fully blossom in his later years.

Educated in the schools of Katsukawa and later Tawaraya, Hokusai's mastery of his craft was complemented by his study of a range of styles, including Western art—a rarity for the period. His insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to adopt various pseudonyms throughout his career, each marking different phases in his journey.

The 1830s proved a pivotal period for Hokusai. It was then that he created his most acclaimed work, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, part of his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series. This series not only showcased his exceptional skill and unique perspective but also reflected a deeper, almost spiritual reverence for the natural world. His ability to capture the transient beauty of the landscape, with Mount Fuji as a recurring, stabilising presence, underscored his connection to Japanese identity.

Collaborations and influences in Hokusai's work were varied; he was inspired by Chinese art and literature, as well as by his contemporaries and students. His daughter, Katsushika Ōi, became an accomplished artist in her own right, often assisting and learning from her father.

Major exhibitions of Hokusai's work have been held worldwide, with his pieces held in prestigious institutions such as the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These exhibitions have not only showcased his prolific output – spanning thousands of prints, sketches, and paintings – but have also highlighted his impact on the art world, including the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements in Europe.

Hokusai's legacy is one of ceaseless innovation and enduring allure. As a visionary who tirelessly pursued his art until his death at the age of ninety, Hokusai immortalised his skill through his timeless depictions of a Japan both mythical and real, drawing audiences into a world characterised by exquisite detail and storytelling. His extensive body of work continues to captivate and inspire, ensuring his place as an artist whose contributions have shaped the course of art history.

Hokusai's career spanned over seventy years. Born in 1760, he began painting around the age of six and went through a series of name changes – a common practice among Japanese artists seeking new artistic identities. Throughout his career, Hokusai created over 30,000 works, ranging from woodblock prints to paintings and book illustrations. His dedication to art was unwavering, and he famously wished for more years of life to perfect his craft, once stating, “If only Heaven will give me just another ten years... Just another five more years, then I could become a real painter.”
Long before the term manga was coined, Hokusai was a pioneer of the narrative pictorial form. He published Hokusai Manga, a series of sketchbooks, beginning in 1814. These books were filled with thousands of images depicting a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, flora, everyday life, and supernatural beings. Hokusai's manga served not only as entertainment but also as a source of inspiration and instruction for other artists. The playful and free-flowing style seen in these sketches is considered a precursor to contemporary manga and has left a lasting legacy in both Japanese and Western cultures.