Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai: biography and creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Japanese art has long been considered one of the most distinctive and original in the world. This phenomenon can be easily explained by the fact that the country was on the outskirts of the world for a long time and was closed. One of the first artists who wrote his name in the history of art is Hokusai Katsushika. His paintings are one of the greatest cultural monuments that have left their mark on history.

Early years of Hokusai Katsushiko

One of the most famous ukiyo-e artists was born on October 21, 1760 in Edo. The greatest artist worked under many pseudonyms, but the story is remembered for his original name. Katsushika Hokusai lived in modern Tokyo and studied in poor neighborhoods. There he received his profession as an artist, which forever recorded the name of his district in history. His real name was Tokitaro Hokusai, which became known only by the beginning of the 20th century.

Based on historical sources, we can say that his father was Nakajima Ise, a mirror maker who workedon the shogun himself. His mother was a concubina, she was not married to his father. She modeled for artists and did housework. According to some sources, his real father was Muneshige Kawamura, who gave his son to study with a master at the age of four. It is also known that Katsushika Hokusai was not the only child in the family. He was presumably not the eldest child and had about four siblings.

Leaving parents, studying at Ekomote

In 1770, at the age of ten, he was sent to work in a bookshop. There he became a book peddler in the Yekomote area. It was here that the young artist received his first nickname - Tetsuzo, which in the future will become his first pseudonym. Working in a bookstore, the boy began to learn to read and write, including Chinese. Among the subjects studied was the skill of drawing engravings. The biography of Katsushika Hokusai as an artist began at the age of six. It was this period that coincided with the rapid development of fine arts in Japan. At this time, the active promotion of theatrical, musical and visual arts began. Engraving and other artistic activities began to receive special attention.

First pen trials

The bright and colorful childhood of the young artist began with the contemplation of the paintings of famous masters - Utagawa Toeharo, Harunobo Kutsiuchi, Katsukawa Shunse. The works of these creators inspired the paintings of Katsushika Hokusai, which gave rise to a new genre - ukiyo-e (pictures of the changing world).

From the start of his studies, the author of great paintings got acquainted with the classic type of fine art in Japan called "woodblock printing". With the advent of the artist, this genre reaches a completely new level, which provides the master with the first wave of popularity and new students. The author cannot fit himself into the framework of this genre and is trying to find wider ways to express his own creativity.

In early 1778, he became an apprentice to the famous painter Katsukawa Shunsho. He comprehends the basics of modern art at that time and creates his first picture, mainly engaged in the image of the actors of the classical Japanese kabuki theater. After the first success, he takes on a new pseudonym - Shunro, which is a pun on the name of his teacher and his own.

Fame as an independent artist

After 4 years, by 1784, the author has the first works released without the intervention of his teacher. The paintings of Japanese artist Kasushika Hokusai are gaining immense popularity among all walks of life. His originality and original style went down in history for a long time as an encyclopedia of the life of ancient peasants.

His work was represented by the early Japanese style of printmaking - yakusha-e and hoso-e. By this time, he was already remembered as a hardworking and talented student and received good recommendations from his teacher. Also engaged in the image of married couples in the style of diptych and triptych. One of Kasuika sensei's most famous models was the young actor Itakawa Danjuro. In this periodcreativity clearly traced the influence of his first master. The works of the early period are poorly preserved and are of the greatest value for admirers of the artist's talent.

In the period from 1795 to 1796, the manifestation of the first author's touches begins. Around this period, the first large works appear, depicting famous buildings, Mount Fuji and famous public figures of Japan at the end of the 18th century.

End of the first period

In addition to original paintings, Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is engaged in the classic occupation of the masters of that time - book illustration. His work can be seen in the "yellow magazines" common in the Edo period, which were sold to the mass user. The illustrations have become a real historical source from which contemporaries can learn about the life and culture of the 19th century.

In 1792, his teacher and mentor, Shunsei, died, after which his successor headed the school. By this time, the young artist began to form the makings of a new, original style. The graphics of Katsushika Hokusai begin to take on features that were used in other schools. For exceptional originality and denial of the classical canons in 1796, the artist was forced to leave his new teacher due to disagreements in his professional activities.

Second period: creation of "Surimon" style

Departure from art school was a turning point in the activities of Katsushika Hokusai. During this period of his life, he faced many difficulties,related to lack of money. The artist was engaged in petty trade, was a cab driver and continued to improve his skills. At the same time he went to classes in several schools, which allowed him to hone his skills to the ideal. He was the first Japanese artist to use a European perspective in his work.

The essence of "Surimon" lies in the specific image of woodcuts and the play of colors. Basically, they served as gift cards, but only rich feudal lords or we althy peasants bought them. Anything could be depicted in the paintings, from everyday and family scenes to the demonstration of mythical stories.

In the work of Katsushika Hokusai "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" new philosophical ideas appear that were not previously used in the works of his contemporaries. After this picture, the artist began to publish new stories based on this story. "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" by Katsushika Hokusai is a prequel to subsequent works in this genre. The painting influenced many artists of several generations. There are different interpretations of this work by Pablo Picasso, Fernand Khnopff, Auguste Rodin and other famous artists.

Third Period: Poverty

At the very peak of popularity, after several dozen successful works, the author retires and actually stops drawing. Katsushika Hokusai stopped teaching new masters and wanted to retire. But due to a sudden fire in 1839, he loses all his possessions, includinga few paintings that were supposed to feed him. Impoverished and neglected artist dies at 88

Creating the world's first Japanese manga

Katsushika Hokusai is also known for creating the Japanese comic book genre. Being at the peak of his popularity, on the advice of his students, he began work on collections of sketches related by plot. Another famous painting by Katsushika Hokusai "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is another sketch from the collections of "Hokusai's drawings". All issues demonstrate interesting everyday situations, national holidays or stories from the life of the author himself. Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave Off Kanagawa became the best-selling compilation and already had a cult status at the time.

Culture Impact

The famous author of paintings has gained fame far beyond the borders of his homeland. Back in the days of the closed Japan, artists from all over the world began to talk about him, admiring the originality and originality of the author. Thanks to the paintings of Katsushika Hokusai, many branches of the ukiyo-e and postmodern genres have appeared.