Katsushika Hokusai
Created 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' and the woodblock series that shaped ukiyo-e and later European modernism.
Veronica's Take
Katsushika Hokusai, the master printmaker who died in 1849, is the genius behind "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," a woodblock print that has become the most reproduced image on earth and a quiet revolution in Western art. His ukiyo-e series, with its bold compositions and striking use of colour, not only defined a genre but also reshaped how European modernists approached their own work. Hokusai's devotion to his craft is legendary; he reportedly changed his name over 30 times, each new moniker marking a new phase of his relentless pursuit of artistic perfection.
One curling wave, cut into cherrywood, became the most reproduced image on earth and quietly rewired how the West learned to see composition and colour.
Key Facts
The people behind Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai
profilePrintmaking — historical
Created 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' and the woodblock series that shaped ukiyo-e and later European modernism.
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