Hokusai

Looking for a good introduction to Hokusai? There are of course lots of books about this great artist. Some are weighty, oversized tomes that I suspect are more impressive-looking (and impressive) than they are read. Five hundred page volumes complete with scholarly text are not the optimal place to start learning about the genius who conceived “Under the Wave off Kanagawa” - the world’s most famous print. That’s why I prefer Ms. Thompson’s book. It’s the best introduction I’ve read for those who want to learn or know more about Katsushika Hokusai (or one of the other 30 names he chose to call himself over a 70+ year artistic career). There’s lots of information here about Hokusai’s life and art, along with background on the Edo period in which he lived. The writing is fine and strikes the right balance between too simple and abstruse. The book’s 162 pages cannot be any more comprehensive than an introduction to some other subject. Nevertheless the text along with wonderfully photographed illustrations and illuminating closeup cutaways hit all the highlights of Hokusai’s art which you’ll need to get started. In sum, Hokusai is an excellent foundation for further reading and museum exhibition viewing.

This book is exactly what I was looking for, I guarantee it's what you're looking for too. Beautiful prints and some descriptions/anecdotes to go along with a few of them. Makes for a great coffee table / art reference / fun reading book. Stop waiting and just buy it! I see now its on sale but that doesn't even bother me that I paid full price for it, its that's good - so what are you waiting for, stop reading this review and buy it!!

Katsushika Hokusai is one of the great geniuses of Japanese, and for that matter, world, art. Whether creating brilliant wood block prints--brilliant in the sense of composition, not necessarily color--or paintings, this unusually long-lived, for his era, late 19th century painter created unforgettable works of art, the most recognizable of which, "The Great Wave of Kanagawa" attracts world-wide art lovers. This is the catalogue for the current exhibit of "Hokusai" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in summer 2015. Excellent text by curator Sarah E. Thompson is the frosting on the cake for this fine book.

This book isn't quite the same as seeing the museum exhibition, but it's the next best thing. Really gorgeous, lavish illustrations including some works I'd never seen before. Highly recommended.

This is a beautiful book, great explanations about the work. I love that it's a MFA original.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK!

Great introduction to Hokusai, it covers little bits of his entire career not just the manga or the Mount Fuji series. The quality of the reproductions seems very good (I've not seen many originals so I am going with my gut on this). It is affordable and if you don't own a good book on Hokusai, you won't go wrong in buying this one.

I really wanted the book ' Lost manga of Hokusai ' but they had it in the local library , so I opted for another book of Hokusai . I love his work , not just the well known ' Wave ' . The way he puts down his characters , the movement of their feet and hands is truly masterful . You just feel how they push their burdens or hasten to get somewhere . The horses he draws are so good , I love the way he paints their heads . As a budding artist , you could do worse than study the way he draws . And he has made so many drawings ! As he says himself : from 6 years old to almost the day he died , he picked up a brush and drew . If only I had done that ... I recommend this book and nearly all books about this great artist .

This book filled out my Hokusai collection. I love the composition of his works, though I am most interested in the landscapes rather than the manga or geisha. A great artist up there with, and inspiring, van Gogh.

Hermosa portada y muy completa la información sobre Hokusai, ademas de que se pueden apreciar sus obras con claridad

La calidad general no es acorde con la portada. La impresión de las ilustraciones es pobre. Además muchas se repiten 2 y hasta 3 veces (focalizado en algún detalle). La selección es también pobre e incompleta, falta naturaleza, imágenes sexuales, pájaros y flores. Decepcionante.

Ilustrações sensacionais impressas em material de qualidade, com textos interessantíssimos sobre o autor.

Beautiful book with lots of knowledge. Great for understandimg the art and taking references