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“Hokusai Manga” which influenced Impressionist

The sketch for the pupils but…

When Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was 52 years old, he drew more than 300 sketches at his pupil’s home. And the publisher Eirakudo published the first “Hokusai Manga” in 1814. Though Hokusai intended to show his art technique for his pupils, the book became popular also among the people.

The series of “Hokusai Manga” had been published up to 15 volumes even after Hokusai died until 1878. The number of the sketches are about 4000.

Learn about Katsushika Hokusai’s biography and facts

“Manga” means comic in today’s Japanese but the word has different meaning at that time. “man” (漫) is desultory or at one’s fancy. And “ga” (画) is drawing. So Hokusai drew the whole of creation at his fancy.

The life of people, animals, plants, landscape, natural phenomenon, gods, Buddha, monsters, and ghost… Hokusai drew the subjects with the free and easy brushwork and bold compositions.

Japonisim and Hokusai Manga

From the late of the 19th to the early of 20th century, the Impressionist artist including Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Cezanne and Degas positively adopted the elements of the Japanese art for their artworks. They loved the ukiyo-e woodblock printings produced by Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro and Toshusai Sharaku.

Speaking about Hokusai, especially “Hokusai Manga” and “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” influenced the Impressionism artist.

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Katsushika Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" ukiyo-e prints

"Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji"(富嶽三十六景）and the most popular ukiyo-e artworks The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Katsushika HokusaiKatsushika Hokusai(1760-1849), who was one of the most active ukiyo-e artists in Edo Period, accomplished a series of "Fugaku Sanjurokkei"(Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji) in early 18th century. The garalley of "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" Though nobody knows the exact production period, it seemed fr...

The right picture is from “Hokusai Manga” volume.11 and left is “Dancers, Pink and Green I” by Degas. Their positions of hands, legs, necks, and heads are really similar.