Hokusai (1760-1849) created sublime works during the last thirty years of his life, right up to his death at the age of almost ninety. This book presents fresh scholarship on the paintings and prints created by the artist during his final three decades, bringing together the finest examples to be found in Japan and around the world.

Hokusai’s personal beliefs are studied here through major brush paintings, drawings, woodblock prints and illustrated books. This publication gives due attention to the contribution of Hokusai’s daughter Eijo (Oi), an accomplished artist in her own right. Hokusai continually explored the mutability and minutiae of natural phenomena in his art. His late subjects and styles were based on a mastery of eclectic Japanese, Chinese and European techniques and an encyclopedic knowledge of nature, myth and history. The collection of Hokusai’s works draws on the finest to be found in Japan and around the world, making this a uniquely valuable overview of the artist’s late career.

Of the 300 or so printed books Hokusai created in his lifetime, a huge proportion of these were dedicated drawing manuals, known as e-tehon (drawing models). They show not only Hokusai’s great proficiency as a draughtsman, but also his wealth of ideas, and his sense of humour.

This omnibus edition collects 15 volumes of Hokusai’s e-tehon, which feature over 800 illustrations of instructions from 1812 to 1848. With every page faithfully reproduced against the original works, the book shows Hokusai’s playful approach to drawing with amusing songs, pictures comprised of letterforms (a forerunner to today’s emoji), modern designs for craftsmen, and, yes, dance moves. This all-encompassing endeavour also includes a valuable work that he published just before his death. This was his magnum opus, serving to ‘preserve everything I’ve learned’.

Note to Readers
The pages in this volume are ordered according to the Japanese system. Please turn to the back of the book to begin reading.