Katsushika Hokusai: Master of the Floating World

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a pioneering Japanese artist and printmaker, celebrated for his mastery of ukiyo-e— the “pictures of the floating world” — which captured the spirit of everyday life and the natural beauty of Edo-period Japan. His iconic print The Great Wave off Kanagawa remains one of the most recognised and influential images in the history of art.

Born in Edo (now Tokyo), Hokusai began an apprenticeship with a woodblock carver at the age of 14. By 18, he had joined the Katsukawa school, where he studied under Katsukawa Shunshō and began producing actor portraits in the traditional style. Over the course of his life, Hokusai took on more than thirty different names, each marking a new chapter in his creative evolution.

His most famous body of work, Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, published in the early 1830s, showcased his revolutionary approach to perspective, composition, and colour. The Great Wave, part of this series, was groundbreaking in its dynamic depiction of nature’s power and remains a symbol of Japanese art worldwide. Although Hokusai’s work was not widely known outside Japan during his lifetime, it became hugely influential in the West in the later 19th century, inspiring artists such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Vincent van Gogh.

Hokusai’s artistic range was extraordinary. He created landscapes, nature studies, scenes from folklore, and humorous sketches. His Hokusai Manga, a collection of thousands of drawings, was a rich visual compendium of people, animals, spirits, and everyday life, and served as a source of inspiration for generations of artists.

In his later years, Hokusai called himself “The Old Man Mad About Drawing,” believing his art would only improve with age. Even in his eighties, he continued to work prolifically, constantly seeking perfection. He died in 1849 at the age of 89, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of more than 30,000 works.

Today, Katsushika Hokusai is honoured as one of Japan’s greatest artists. His prints and drawings are housed in major museums around the world, and his visionary approach continues to influence global art and design.