Katshushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai
By: Connor Baker
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist born in Edo (now Tokyo), on October 31, 1760. Katsushika started his work at the young age of six. He learned from his father who was a mirror maker that would paint designs around the mirrors. His father sent him to work at a book shop at the age of twelve, where he cut wood blocks which were commonly used for books in this period. At the age of eighteen he was excepted into the studio of Katsukawa Sunsho. Katsukawa was a master in wood block paintings that Katsushika learned under Katsukawa. After graduating, Katsushika focused on painting images of popular characters in Japan's society. His first wife married him in 1779 and died in the 1790's and he re-married in 1797 and his second wife died a short time later. Under the two wives he had three children. In the year 1800 he published Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital and Eight Views of Edo. After releasing these works it began to draw lots of attention to him. He even created a 600 ft painting of the Buddhist priest Daruma using a broom for a brush. He was even called in by Shogun Iyenari were he competed against other artist and he won the competition. Later he even created his own art manuals. For all levels of artists. It wasn't till the 1820's when he reached the peak of his career. At this time he was producing his most famous Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. The most famous from this series was the Great Wave of Kanagawa. Then he painted numerous painting of nature including waterfalls, and animals. In 1839 his studio were most of his art was kept burned down with the paintings inside. Though he continued to keep painting. He then died on May 10, 1849 in Edo. He was also buried in Edo. Some of his famous works included his Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, A journey to the waterfalls of all provinces, and his Journey to the bridges of all provinces.
Wikipedia.org
By: Connor Baker
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist born in Edo (now Tokyo), on October 31, 1760. Katsushika started his work at the young age of six. He learned from his father who was a mirror maker that would paint designs around the mirrors. His father sent him to work at a book shop at the age of twelve, where he cut wood blocks which were commonly used for books in this period. At the age of eighteen he was excepted into the studio of Katsukawa Sunsho. Katsukawa was a master in wood block paintings that Katsushika learned under Katsukawa. After graduating, Katsushika focused on painting images of popular characters in Japan's society. His first wife married him in 1779 and died in the 1790's and he re-married in 1797 and his second wife died a short time later. Under the two wives he had three children. In the year 1800 he published Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital and Eight Views of Edo. After releasing these works it began to draw lots of attention to him. He even created a 600 ft painting of the Buddhist priest Daruma using a broom for a brush. He was even called in by Shogun Iyenari were he competed against other artist and he won the competition. Later he even created his own art manuals. For all levels of artists. It wasn't till the 1820's when he reached the peak of his career. At this time he was producing his most famous Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. The most famous from this series was the Great Wave of Kanagawa. Then he painted numerous painting of nature including waterfalls, and animals. In 1839 his studio were most of his art was kept burned down with the paintings inside. Though he continued to keep painting. He then died on May 10, 1849 in Edo. He was also buried in Edo. Some of his famous works included his Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, A journey to the waterfalls of all provinces, and his Journey to the bridges of all provinces.
Wikipedia.org