Examples of Hokusai's Drawing (Hokusai gashiki) 北斎画式

About this artwork

This illustrated book represents Hokusai's important contribution to art instruction and the dissemination of drawing techniques. Published in 1818 as "Hokusai gashiki" (Examples of Hokusai's Drawing), this volume forms part of Hokusai's extensive production of instructional manuals and picture books. Hokusai, already in his late fifties by 1818, had achieved fame for his prints and paintings but also devoted considerable energy to teaching through published drawing guides. These instructional b...

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokusai created this instructional manual, *Examples of Hokusai’s Drawing* (*Hokusai gashiki*), in 1818 during Japan’s Edo period. Already renowned for his dynamic woodblock prints and paintings, the artist—then in his late fifties—turned his attention to teaching through a series of published guides. The compact ink-on-paper volume, measuring roughly 10½ by 7 inches, offered clear demonstrations of brushwork and composition for depicting birds, trees, figures, and landscapes, making professional techniques available to a wider audience beyond traditional apprenticeships. This book reflects Hokusai’s commitment to sharing artistic knowledge at a time when printed manuals were becoming an important tool for self-study. Its straightforward format allowed aspiring artists and amateurs to practice the fluid ink techniques central to Japanese painting traditions. The manual later traveled beyond Japan, influencing Western artists in the late nineteenth century who admired the expressive simplicity of its approach. Acquired through the Howard Mansfield Collection and gifted to the Metropolitan Museum in 1936, the volume stands as a testament to Hokusai’s dual role as master creator and generous teacher, preserving his methods for generations of learners.

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...