Katsushika Hokusai (c. 1760 - May 10, 1849) Although you may not know the name Katsushika Hokusai, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve seen at least one of his works: Under the Wave off Kanagawa (ca. 1830–32), more commonly known as The Great Wave. Arguably the most famous image in all of Japanese art, this iconic woodblock print depicts a huge, frothing wave as it crests over a distant Mount Fuji. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) in 1760, the influential artist and printmaker led a life that was both intensely productive and undeniably eccentric.

from the age of six i had a mania for drawing the shapes of things
when i was fifty i had published a universe of designs
but all i have done before the the age of seventy is not worth bothering with
at seventy-five i'll have learned something of the pattern of nature , of animals , of plants , of trees , birds , fish and insects
when i am eighty you will see real progress
at ninety i shall have cut my way deeply into the mystery of life itself
at hundred , i shall be a marvelous artist
at hundred-and-ten , everything i create : a dot , a line , will jump to life as never before
to all of you who are going to live as long as i do , i promise to keep my word
i am writing this in my old age
i used to call myself Hokusai, but today i sign my self
'The Old Man Mad About Drawing’

I trust you enjoy this visit and may you be enriched with the work of masters of art
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