Hokusai

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist who lived from 1760 to 1849. He is best known for his woodblock prints, especially The Great Wave off Kanagawa. This famous picture shows a huge wave about to crash, with Mount Fuji in the background. Hokusai made art for almost 70 years and created thousands of prints, paintings, and drawings. He is one of the most influential artists in all of history.

The Great Wave

Hokusai's most famous print shows a giant blue wave curling over small fishing boats. In the distance, you can see the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji. This print is part of a series called Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. Hokusai made it when he was about 70 years old. The image has been copied and printed on everything from T-shirts to phone cases. It is one of the most recognized pictures in the world.

A Lifelong Artist

Hokusai started drawing when he was six years old. He changed his artist name more than 30 times during his life. He drew landscapes, animals, ghosts, and everyday scenes. He made a 15-volume book of sketches called manga that taught drawing techniques. Hokusai said that everything he made before age 70 was not worth counting. He believed he would keep getting better. He lived to be 88 years old.

Fun Facts

• Hokusai changed his artist name over 30 times during his life.
• His Great Wave print inspired many European artists, including Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
• Hokusai once painted a giant picture of a Buddhist monk that was about 600 feet long.

Did You Know?

On his deathbed at age 88, Hokusai said that if he could have just five more years, he could have become a truly great artist!