A comprehensive exhibition seeks to survey the legacy and career of the first Japanese artist to be internationally recognized.
Perhaps best known for his iconic “Under the Wave Off Kanagawa (Great Wave),” Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) produced a corpus replete with countless exquisite paintings, woodblock prints, dioramas, and illustrated printed books. The rich Hokusai holdings of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston have positioned it uniquely to offer an expansive exhibition that touches on themes and moments throughout the artist’s 60-year career, with galleries dedicated to landscapes, nature, fantasy, and the “Floating World” of urban culture.
In addition to “Under the Wave Off Kanagawa,” a highlight of the exhibition is the breathtaking “Phoenix” of 1835. This brilliantly colored multi-paneled folding screen is absolutely magnetic. Using ink, pigment, cut gold leaf, and sprinkled gold on paper, this piece encapsulates Hokusai’s transcendent talent and craftsmanship.
“Hokusai” opened in April and will hang until August 9.
To learn more, visit Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
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