Wednesday, April 9, 2014

H is for Hokusai



Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist, painter and print-maker who lived from 1760 to 1849.


Self Portrait, 1839
What I find most interesting about his story is that somewhere around age 70 he retired, his wife died and his grandson gambled away all his money.  He was destitute.  So, he was forced to go back to work and he ended up producing the best work of his life.  Maybe retirement is over-rated, at least for artists?  Hokusai completed a series of woodcut prints called "36 Views of Mt. Fuji".  There are actually a total of 46 prints, 10 extra were created due to the popularity of the series. Below are my favorite four images in that series.


Red Fuji

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

Kajikazawa in Kai Province

Rainstorm Beneath the Summit

 

5 comments:

  1. Wonderful movement in your star studded beaded letter 'H'. Enjoyed the story of Hokusai and recognized his famous 'Wave'.
    Sue at CollectInTexas Gal

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  2. I never knew who the person was behind the Great Wave.
    That H looks like trees...what trees do in the night when we are sleeping. Very nice beadwork!

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  3. Another person who didn't know who was responsible for the Great Wave, but I'm seriously crushing on your beaded letter H! It's seriously wonderful!

    Mars
    Curling Stones for Lego People

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  4. I like that Great Wave print a lot. Had no idea who the artist was!

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  5. oh man ... LOVE him. The wave is one of my favorite images

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