Hokusai

The Old Man Who Painted

Hokusai, the Master Who Triggered a Tsunami in the Art World
Meet the artist whose majestic influence spread throughout the world. Hokusai (1760-1849) is not only one of the giants of Japanese art and a legend of the Edo period, but also one of the founders of Western modernism. His prolific range of prints, illustrations, and paintings constitutes one of the most complete expressions of the ukiyo-e art genre and is one of the fundamental references of Japonisme. His influence reached Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and Jugendstil, among others, and captivated artists such as Claude Monet (who bought 23 of his prints), Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Vincent van Gogh.

Hokusai was always an active man. Throughout his life, he changed his address more than 90 times and replaced his own name with at least seven professional pseudonyms.