Since ancient times, Japanese fine art was considered one of the most distinctive and original in the whole world. This phenomenon is easily explained by the fact that the country has long been on the outskirts of the world and was closed. One of the first artists to write 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.
The early years of Hokusai Katsushiko
One of the most famous artists of the ukiyo-e genre was born on October 21, 1760 in Edo. The greatest artist worked under many pseudonyms, but history was remembered precisely by its original name. Katsushika Hokusai lived in modern Tokyo and studied in impoverished neighborhoods. There he received his profession as an artist, than forever recorded the name of his area in history. His real name was Tokitaro Hokusai, which became known only at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Based on historical sources, we can say that his father was Nakajima Ise - a master of mirror production, who worked for the shogun himself. His mother was a rival, she was not married to his father. She was a model for artists and housework. According to some sources, his real father was Munesige Kawamuru, who gave his son to study with the master at the age of four. It is also known that Katsushika Hokusai was not the only child in the family. He was supposedly not the eldest child, and he had about four brothers and sisters.
Avoiding parents, training at Ekomot
In 1770, at the age of ten, he was sent to work in a bookstore. There, he became a peddler of books in the Ekomote area. It was here that the young artist received his first nickname - Tetsuzo, which in the future will be his first pseudonym. Working in a bookstore, the boy began to study literacy, including Chinese. Among the subjects studied was the skill of drawing engravings. Katsushika Hokusai's biography as an artist began at the age of six. This period coincided with the rapid development of fine art in Japan. At this time, the active promotion of theatrical, musical and visual arts began. Engraving and other types of artistic activity began to receive special attention.
The first samples of the pen
The bright and colorful childhood of the young artist began with the contemplation of paintings by famous masters - Utagawa Toyoharo, Harunobo Kutsuchi, Katsukawa Syunse. The works of these creators gave inspiration for Katsushika Hokusai's paintings, which gave rise to a new genre - ukiyo-e (pictures of a changing world).
With the beginning of training, the author of great paintings familiarized himself with the classic art of Japan, called "woodcut". 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 of expressing his own creativity.
At the beginning of 1778, he became an apprentice of the famous artist Katsukawa Syunse. He comprehends the basics of contemporary art at that time and creates his first picture, mainly focusing on portraying the actors of the classic Japanese kabuki theater. After the first success, he takes a new pseudonym - Shunro, which is a pun on behalf of his teacher and his own.
Fame as an independent artist
After 4 years, by 1784, the author has the first works published without the intervention of his teacher. Pictures of the Japanese artist Kasusik Hokusai are very popular among all walks of life. Its originality and original style have long gone down in history as an encyclopedia of the life of ancient peasants.
His works were represented by an early Japanese engraving style - yakusha-e and hoso-e. At this point, he was already remembered as a hardworking and talented student and received good recommendations from his teacher. He also dealt with couples in the style of diptych and triptych. One of the most famous models of Kasuika-sensei was the young actor Takashuu Danjuro. During this period of creativity, the influence of his first master was clearly traced. The works of the early period are poorly preserved and have the greatest value for admirers of the artist’s talent.
In the period from 1795 to 1796, the manifestation of the first authorial touches begins. Around this period, the first large works appeared depicting the 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 the original paintings, the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is engaged in the classic occupation of the masters of that time - the illustration of books. His work can be seen in the "yellow magazines" that were widespread in the Edo era, which were sold to the mass user. Illustrations have become a real historical source, from which contemporaries can know about the life and culture of the XIX century.
In 1792, his teacher and mentor, Shunsei, died, after which his successor led the school. By this time, the young artist began to form the makings of a new, original style. Katsushika Hokusai's graphics are starting to take on features that have been used in other schools. For the exceptional originality and denial of the classical canons in 1796, the artist was forced to leave his new teacher because of disagreements in his professional activities.
Second period: the creation of the Surimon style
Leaving the art school was a turning point in the activities of Katsushika Hokusai. During this period of his life, he faced many difficulties associated with a lack of money. The artist was engaged in petty trade, was a cabman and continued to improve his skills. At the same time I went to classes in several schools, which allowed him to hone his skills to the ideal. He was the first Japanese artist to apply a European perspective in his work.
The essence of "Surimon" is a specific woodcut image and a play of colors. Mostly they served as gift cards, but only rich feudal lords or wealthy peasants bought them. In the paintings, anything could be depicted, from domestic and family scenes to a demonstration of mythical stories.
In the work of Katsushik 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. Katsushika Hokusai's "Dream of a Fisherman's Wife" is a prequel to the subsequent works of this genre. The painting has influenced many artists of several generations. There are different interpretations of this work by Pablo Picasso, Fernand Knopf, Auguste Rodin and other famous artists.
Third period: poverty
At the peak of popularity, after several dozens of successful works, the author goes to rest and actually stops painting. Katsushika Hokusai stopped teaching new masters and wanted to retire. But due to the sudden fire that happened in 1839, he loses all his belongings, including several paintings that were supposed to feed him. An impoverished and forgotten artist dies at the age of 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 popularity, on the advice of his students, he began work on collections of sketches related to the plot. Another famous painting by Katsushik Hokusai "The Great Wave in Kanagawa" is another sketch from the collections of "Hokusai drawings." All issues demonstrate interesting everyday situations, national holidays or stories from the life of the author himself. Katsushika Hokusai's collection "The Great Wave in Kanagawa" became the best-selling and already at that time had a cult status.
Impact on culture
The famous author of paintings gained fame far beyond the borders of his homeland. Even in the times of Japan's closeness, artists from all over the world began talking about him, admiring the originality and originality of the author. Thanks to Katsushika Hokusai's paintings, many branches of the ukiyo-e and postmodern genres have appeared.