Hokusai, First Manga Master

By Jocelyn Bouquillard and Christophe Marquet

The first Japanese artist to become widely known in the West, Katsushika Hokusai's influence on American and European art, design and culture remains unparalleled. This book features a selection of 60... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810993414
• ISBN13: 9780810993419
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 0.9" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful collection

This is a terrific collection of some of the best of Hokusai's manga from his prodigious production. Nicely produced, the book contains brief introductions to each section, which are divided by subject matter. I only wish some enterprising publisher would publish the entire 15 or so volumes in an English edition.

Excellent Value

Hokusai Manga is Katsushika Hokusai's 15 volume encyclopedia of casual drawings (man-ga) or loose sketches. The last two volumes were published posthumously. Rather than write an essay of why I think this is an excellent book, I'd like to just list some of the reasons: - Inside the US this is the only text (available in retail book stores) that devotes itself to Hokusai's Manga which is a shame because it is such a masterwork. Novelist James A. Michener wrote a book entitled "The Hokusai Sketchbooks" in 1958 but it is not in print anymore. - Both authors do a good job explaining the historical details of the Manga and Hokusai's possible inspiration. It would be nice to see more of Hokusai's own views but I understand they must difficult to come by. - The book consists of two introductory chapters by the authors and four chapters of selections from the Manga. - The sketches dominate the text which is the way it should be. The art can speak for itself. - I like the heavy paper the book is printed on and you definitely have the feeling you are holding a quality book. The weight of the paper also makes the drawings seem more like real prints. - The print quality of the art is excellent and you get the feeling they are sincere facsimiles of the originals in color and in texture. - The smaller size of the book is also very nice. I travel quite a bit and to lug around huge hardback tomes takes its toll on you. - Given my admiration for the paper, I'd still trade it for bible type paper to see more the sketches. They are marvelous. - I think you need to allow yourself to settle in and relax a bit whilst reading this as the subtleties of the drawings will tell you many stories. There are modern versions of the manga still being published in Japan but as far I can tell they are not sold in the US (Midwest).