Color woodcut, ink, paper, 22x30 cm, artist's signature, publisher's mark in margin
For the Japanese, admiring the cherry blossoms has always been one of the most important events. As the country stretches from south to north, there is a term for the "cherry blossom front," an annual wave of tree blossoms predicted by meteorologists, moving from the south (from January/March in Okinawa/Kiuiu) to the north (until May in Hokkaido).
In Hokusaia's design, the cherry trees are in full bloom and a group of people are enjoying a picnic. A woman plays the shamisen while others talk, eat and drink. They are sitting in one of the best spots with a great view of Fuji. In the foreground, a man pulls out food suspended on a rope, probably prepared in a building across the river.
The woodcut isfrom the series"Takamizawa Publishing House's Anthology of Famous Hokusai Paintings." Takamizawa Publishing House and Woodcut Society is a Tokyo-based renowned company, active from 1933-88, founded by brothers Masuro and Tadao Takamizawa. From the mid-1950s, it published a series of 49 reprints of Hokusai's prints. The series focused on unusual, less common designs. They ranged from scenes of nature and beauty to outstanding works in the "100 Views of Mount Fuji" series. Printed with attention to detail and exceptional quality, this rare series is extremely visually appealing. Takamizawa adhered to the same rigorous standards that 19th century publishers had. Some of Japan's finest printers and sculptors were employed. The resulting works are among the highest quality editions ever created.
Hokusai Katsushika, mostly known by the name Hokusai (born October 31, 1760 in Edo (now Tokyo), died May 10, 1849 there) - one of Japan's most prominent and prolific painters and creators of color woodcuts in the ukiyo-e style. The name Katsushika Hokusai is known worldwide, but it was a pseudonym that the artist used instead of his real name, which was Kawamura Tetsuzo. When signing works, he used many (at least thirty) pseudonyms, including Shunrō, Sōri, Taito, Manji. Although it is unclear why he changed his name, some researchers believe it was to test his talent and increase sales. From an early age, Hokusai had a passion for drawing. He studied at the studio of Katsukawa Shunsho. He became known as an extremely prolific artist, a great draughtsman, landscape artist, illustrator and caricaturist. In his paintings, usually populated with a multitude of figures, he recreated Japan of the time. Among other things, he painted flowers, turtles, pheasants, roosters, one hundred poems, bridges and cascades. Persuaded by his students, he published 15 volumes of sketches and drawings entitled Manga (1814). His works had a profound influence on European Impressionists such as Claude Monet and others. His best-known work is a series of ukiyo-e woodcuts, "Thirty Views of Mount Fuji," which was created between 1826 and 1833 during the Taito period. In addition to paintings and drawings, he created illustrations for more than 500 books, some of which he wrote himself.
