Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) enjoyed one of the longest and most prolific careers of any Japanese artist of the nineteenth century. Living to the age of almost ninety was itself exceptional for the period, yet what is most striking is not his longevity, but the youthful vitality of his imagination to the very end of his life.
Katsushika Hokusai: A Life in Pictures traces Hokusai’s life and introduces his artistic vision through a chronological exploration of twenty-eight of his most-loved works. In following the stages of his career, each marked by a change in the name he adopted, the evolution of his visual language is revealed. Seen in this way, Hokusai emerges as an artist of continual reinvention, whose work remained dynamic and responsive throughout his life, shaped by rigorous self-discipline and an enduring drive for renewal.
A Life in Pictures
This title is part of the A Life in Pictures series, which offers a bold new way to discover the world’s greatest artists. Each book focuses on one iconic figure—from Munch to Monet, Cassatt to Caravaggio—with their life and work unfolding through a vivid, image-led timeline. Masterpieces take center stage, presented in chronological order so readers can see how the art and the life intertwine. Accessible, engaging, and visually striking, the series is both an essential introduction to the most celebrated names in art and a captivating showcase of their work.
Contributors
Ryoko Matsuba
Author
Ryoko Matsuba is a specialist in Japanese printed culture from the Edo to modern times. She is a lecturer in Japanese digital arts and humanities at the Sainsbury Institute and has been a researcher at the British Museum since 2014. She is a coauthor of Hokusai’s Method and coeditor of Manga.
