Born: 31 October 1760 · Died: 10 May 1849 · Age: 88
Japanese ukiyo-e artist whose woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa became one of the most recognised images in the world
Did you know?He changed his name over thirty times during his life, with each new name often marking a change in his artistic style.
Quick facts
Date of birth31 October 1760
Date of death10 May 1849
Age at death88
NationalityJapanese
BirthplaceEdo, Japan
Occupationpainter, xylographer, illustrator
Editor's Take:
Hokusai created what may be the most recognisable image in Asian art, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, with its towering claw-like wave and tiny Mount Fuji in the distance. It was part of a series called Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, made when he was already in his seventies. Over a career of around seventy years, he produced tens of thousands of paintings, drawings and prints. His sketchbooks, known as the Hokusai Manga, are full of lively people, animals and everyday scenes. His work inspired European artists such as Monet and Van Gogh, helping to shape modern Western art.
Key Milestones
1779: Publishes his first prints
1814: Publishes the first volume of the Hokusai Manga
1831: Publishes The Great Wave off Kanagawa
1834: Begins One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎; c. 31 October 1760 – 10 May 1849) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker. His woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji includes the iconic print The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
