Hokusai: A Life in Drawing

I bought this after seeing the British Museum film on Hokusai's life, and it is the perfect accompaniment to that.The book is not the normal format; a paperback is stuck to the back of a hardcover, which is covered in a beautiful silky material with a print of one of Hokusai's landscapes, tied with an orange ribbon. The pages are actually double - 2 pages folded - that is, they have print on either side of the fold, but blank inside, so you don't get any bleed through from the back of the page - it gives a strange feel to the pages, like they should have been split on the outside edge, but it is intentional.The introduction is quite lengthy and academic, but gives a deep insight to the cultural and artistic norms of the time, illustrating why Hokusai was a real innovator, breaking away from the strict ideas of what Art should or should not be. Then it goes through his life, almost every page illustrating the directional changes his art went through.A complete joy!

This delicate beautiful graphic account of Hokusai’s prolific output across several genres is a gem. It’s instructive on the art itself, extremely interesting on the culture of the Japan this art reflects, and artistically richly enjoyable.How different Japan was as recently as in the 19th century, how exquisite its delicacy, how powerful its passions, and how real Hokusai’s observation and comment. After its wartime atrocities and losses, Japan is now a functionally successful but much more muted place. Hopefully its artistic delicacy can once again flourish.

Bought it as a present but wanted to keep it for myself!! I will have to buy another !!

A really nice book, very well bound and a little unusual with its double layer pages and beautiful illustrations. Some of the illustrations are just details of larger works and it would have been nice to see the whole thing no matter how small it would have been to fit the page but this is a minor criticism of an otherwise gem of a book. One thing they don't mention in the description is the fact that it contain a couple of Hokusai's erotic works, something to bear in mind if buying as a present.

A most gorgeous work fit for any collector worth their salt. The hardcover is gold silky fabric and the pages are uncut, so the printing does not bleed through - a fantastic edition I am excited to own! I first saw it at the Rijksmuseum giftshop around the time it came out and have wanted it ever since. Buy it for yourself if you're a fan of Hokusai or offer it as a gift.

Beautifully produced book, and arrived very well packed. Thank you

Interesting book - overall good. The picture reproductions could have been of better quality, also with a larger format perhaps.

This is my favorite item of my order. The book is perfect. Full of art and useful informations.

The pictures are really well printed. My bf love it

O livro é lindo, por dentro e por fora. Incrível o trabalho, com a capa lembrando a seda, e com páginas duplas, pras imagens não vazarem pro outro lado. Vale muito a pena

Books ia about Hokusai life and paintings. When reading the bookm I have to check the locations, the art terminology and so forth.The production of the book is well done. It is binded using old techniques and it is a pleasure to read it.The language o fthe book is in English. Written in a critical point of view, enriching the book.It also includes a brief historical background to put the reader in the historical context of the time Hokusai lived.

It's Hokusai! Such a gifted artist. We are fortunate to have so many of his works around still.

Un libro original, el exterior lleva un forro tipo seda y las paginas son dobles. Viene con dos tiras para hacer un lacito y cerrarlo.Es precioso, ya solo me falta ojearlo...