Author(s): Edmond de Goncourt

Artists & Styles

Through his elegant brush paintings and masterful woodblocks, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) became one of Japan s most internationally-renowned artists. A master of ukiyo-eart, he singlehandedly transformed the art form from a simple style focused on courtesans and famous actors into a grander style depicting the beauty of nature seen through landscapes and wildlife. His style of art and his subjects evolved as many times as he changed his name, but Hokusai s talent as an artist remained constant and his influential role in later art movements such as Art Nouveau and Impressionism remains eternal."