Today marks 160 years from Katsushika Hokusai’s death, in 1849. However, the exact day of commemoration is not clear, according to some sources Hokusai died on May 10th, but according to others, he died on April 18th.

Hokusai was one of the greatest ukiyo-e painters, known especially for the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series. One of the best known ukiyo-e paintings, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, is part of this series.

Also part of the same series, the Asakusa Hongan-ji temple in the Eastern capital is my favorite, is always impressing me with the composition and the colors.

Hokusai had a huge influence not only in Japan but also in Europe, his ukiyo-e paintings were a source of inspiration for impressionist painters (Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec).
However, he lived a modest life and a little before his death, he declared: “If Heaven had lent me but five years more, I would have become a great painter.“

More information on:

• Wikipedia
• Katsushika Hokusai.org
• The life and work of Hokusai

160 de ani de la moartea lui Katsushika Hokusai

Astăzi se împlinesc 160 de ani de la moartea lui Katsushika Hokusai. Data morţii nu este însă sigură, după unele date, Hokusai a murit pe data de 10 mai 1849, iar după altele pe 18 aprilie.

Hokusai a fost unul dintre cei mai mari pictori ukiyo-e, cunoscut în special pentru seria Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, din care face parte The Great Wave off Kanagawa, una dintre cele mai celebre picturi ukiyo-e.

Din aceaşi serie, favorita mea este Asakusa Hongan-ji temple in the Eastern capital, pictură care m-a impresionat prin colorit şi compoziţie.

Hokusai a avut o mare influenţă nu numai în Japonia, ci şi în Europa, picturile au fost sursa de inspiraţie pentru pictorii din curentul impresionist (Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec). Cu toate acestea a rămas modest, iată ce declara cu puţin timp înainte de a muri: “Dacă divinitatea m-ar mai fi lăsat să trăiesc încă cinci ani, aş fi devenit un mare pictor.“

Mai multe informaţii despre Hokusai pe:

• Wikipedia
• Katsushika Hokusai.org
• The life and work of Hokusai