2027.05.22 — 2027.07.19 · Coming soon

Hokusai before the Great Wave.

HOKUSAI: When Hokusai Was “Hokusai” — Osaka

Katsushika Hokusai changed his art name many times; his “Hokusai” years ran for about 18 years, from age 37 in 1796 to age 54 in 1813. In this period he became the leading illustrator of colour kyōka poetry books; when illustrated novels (yomihon) boomed in the Bunka era, he teamed up with writers such as Kyokutei Bakin and drove the craze with sheer skill and output; he also made many single-sheet prints of beauties, famous places and theatre, broke new ground with Western-style prints and threw himself into painting. This exhibition gathers kyōka books, yomihon, surimono, Western-style prints and paintings of the period from collections in Japan and abroad to follow Hokusai in his prime, which the organisers call a different kind of Hokusai show. It runs from 22 May to 19 July 2027 at the Abeno Harukas Art Museum.