Fūkeiga

Katsushika Hokusai prints bring together the work of Japan's best-known artist of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world". Hokusai's views of Mount Fuji, his waterfalls and bridges, and his lively scenes of people at work and play made the landscape print popular in Japan and later inspired artists across Europe. Our collection of fine art prints includes his Fuji views, waterfall and bridge series, city scenes and studies.

About Katsushika Hokusai

Katsushika Hokusai was born in Edo, now Tokyo, in the autumn of 1760 and spent most of his long life there. He worked for decades as a painter, printmaker and book illustrator, changing his art name many times.

His Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, published around 1830–32, grew to 46 prints and includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Fine Wind, Clear Morning and Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit. It made the landscape print a popular subject in Japan. He followed it with series on waterfalls and famous bridges.

His prints and his sketchbooks, the Hokusai Manga, helped shape Japonisme in Europe: Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and Whistler all looked closely at his work. He died in Edo on 10 May 1849, aged 88.

Style and Subjects

Hokusai's prints have strong outlines, flat areas of bright colour and bold, simple shapes. He used the imported pigment Prussian blue to striking effect in skies and water. Mount Fuji often appears somewhere unexpected: tiny in the distance, framed by a wave or seen across a lake.

People are everywhere in his pictures, small and busy, working, travelling and resting, dwarfed by mountains, waterfalls and weather. His studies and sketches add humour, from a cat cleaning its claws to a man stretching.

Famous Works

• Fine Wind, Clear Morning (South Wind, Clear Dawn) (c. 1830–1832). The "Red Fuji" glowing under a sky of small clouds.
• Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit (Rain Below the Mountain) (c. 1830–1832). The "Black Fuji", with a storm breaking below the peak.
• Kajikazawa in Kai Province (c. 1830–1832). A fisherman on a rock casts his line into rushing water, with Fuji beyond.
• The Surface of Lake Misaka in Kai Province (c. 1830–1832). Fuji reflected in a calm lake.
• Falls of Kirifuri at Mt. Kurokami (c. 1832). A waterfall spreading like fingers down the rock, from his waterfall series.
• The Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaidō Road (c. 1832). A round pool and a falling column of water.
• The Brocade Bridge in Suo Province (c. 1834). Arched bridges from his series of famous bridges.
• The Waterwheel at Onden (c. 1830–1832). Villagers at work around a great waterwheel.

Decorating with Hokusai Prints

Hokusai's Fuji views and waterfalls suit almost any room. They bring calm to a bedroom or living room, and the blues and greens look fresh in a bathroom. Simple black or natural wood frames with wide white mounts suit the Japanese style.

Try a set of three Fuji views in a row above a sofa or bed, or pair the Red Fuji with the Black Fuji for a striking contrast. His sketches and the cat cleaning its claws are fun choices for a study or kitchen.

FAQ

Who was Katsushika Hokusai?

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a Japanese painter and printmaker from Edo (Tokyo), the best-known artist of ukiyo-e.

What is Hokusai's most famous work?

The Great Wave off Kanagawa, from his series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (c. 1830–32). Fine Wind, Clear Morning, the "Red Fuji", is almost as famous.

What makes Hokusai's style recognizable?

Strong outlines, flat bright colour, Prussian blue, tiny busy people dwarfed by nature and Mount Fuji placed in unexpected spots.

Where can I see Hokusai's prints?

The Sumida Hokusai Museum in Tokyo, opened in 2016, shows his prints, books and paintings. Impressions of his prints are also held by many museums around the world.

How did Hokusai influence Western art?

Through his prints and the Hokusai Manga he shaped Japonisme in Europe. Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and Whistler all studied his work.

Related Artists

• Utagawa Hiroshige: the other great master of the Japanese landscape print
• Kitagawa Utamaro: ukiyo-e master of the generation before
• Utagawa Kuniyoshi: ukiyo-e master of warriors and legends
• Félix Bracquemond: French artist who copied the Hokusai Manga onto ceramics