Ryoko Matsuba

Art as life: Hokusai’s life story, told through his greatest works. Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) enjoyed one of the longest and most prolific careers of any Japanese artist of the 19th century. Living to the age of ninety was itself exceptional for the period, yet what is most striking is not his longevity, but the youthful vitality of his imagination to the very end of his life. Hokusai: A Life in Pictures traces Hokusai’s life and introduces his artistic vision through a chronological exploration of twenty-eight of his most-loved works. In following the stages of his career, each marked by a change in the name he adopted, the evolution of his visual language is revealed. Seen in this way, Hokusai emerges as an artist of continual reinvention, whose work remained dynamic and responsive throughout his life, shaped by rigorous self-discipline and an enduring drive for renewal. Life in Pictures This title is part of the ‘Life in Pictures’ series, which offers a bold new way to discover the world’s greatest artists. Each book focuses on one iconic figure – from Munch to Monet, Cassatt to Caravaggio – with their life and work unfolding through a vivid, image-led timeline. Masterpieces take centre stage, presented in chronological order so readers can see how the art and the life intertwine. Accessible, engaging and visually striking, the series is both an essential introduction to the most celebrated names in art and a captivating showcase of their work.

An omnibus edition collecting 15 volumes of Hokusai’s dedicated drawing manuals, ‘e-tehon’. Of the 300 or so printed books Hokusai created in his lifetime, a huge proportion of these were dedicated drawing manuals, known as e-tehon (drawing models). They show not only Hokusai’s great proficiency as a draughtsman, but also his wealth of ideas, and his sense of humour. This omnibus edition collects 15 volumes of Hokusai's e-tehon, which feature over 800 illustrations of instructions from 1812 to 1848. With every page faithfully reproduced against the original works, the book shows Hokusai's playful approach to drawing with amusing songs, pictures comprised of letterforms (a forerunner to today’s emoji), modern designs for craftsmen, and, yes, dance moves. This all-encompassing endeavour also includes a valuable work that he published just before his death. This was his magnum opus, serving to 'preserve everything I’ve learned'. Note to Readers The pages in this volume are ordered according to the Japanese system. Please turn to the back of the book to begin reading.