Hokusai, First Manga Master

by Jocelyn Bouquillard, Christophe Marquet

More than a hundred years before Japanese comics swept the globe, the master engraver Hokusai was producing beautiful, surreal, and often downright wacky sketches and drawings, filled with many of the characters and themes found in modern manga . These out-of-context caricatures, which include studies of facial expressions, postures, and situations ranging from the mundane to the otherworldly, demonstrate both the artist’s style and his taste. In addition to the landscapes for which he is beloved, Hokusai’s mangas reveal his compassion for farmers, artisans, and peasants, as well as his keen eye for the absurd.

Genres: Art, Japan, Nonfiction, Manga, History, Japanese Literature, Graphic Novels

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Archiviste paléographe, Jocelyn Bouquillard est conservateur à la Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève.

Reviews

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non si può raccontare. Deve essere visto, perché solo così lo si può capire e apprezzare. Sorprendente.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of gorgeous, detailed prints in this book, which is why I tried to go through it slower than usual. This is an art book I wouldn't mind owning and keeping in my personal collection - unfortunately, I'm reading a library copy!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love his pages that have lots of little figures doing something active, for example a bunch of pairs of sumo wrestlers mid-grapple. The fantastical creatures like the long-necked woman on the cover are also super fun.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hokusai manga (2007)

Fantastici paesaggi e animali, meno di mio gusto uomini, armi e scene di lotta. Parte testuale stringata, che privilegia le immagini.

[Veronik Avella · Rating 5 out of 5]

hermoso hasta incluye las ilustraciones y da un contexto tan bien hecho que me hizo conectar mucho con el mismísimo hokusai

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many of Hokusai's sketches (manga, 漫画) with excellent descriptions and historical background. I heard about this from the Great Courses audiobook Understanding Japan: A Cultural History (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho...) which I would also recommend.

[ariane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice little book containing some of the finest pieces from Hokusai's 15-volume Manga, covering everything from examples of pots and shellfish to elaborate prints of gods and monsters. (Don't you just love the woman with the extended neck on the cover?). I appreciate that the plates take up the entire page so that the reader can linger over the images without being bothered by out-of-place text or petty page margins. My favorite pictures are the ones of animals and plants. The detail is stunning and you really can't help admiring the skill of the engraver who carved such intricate work on, of all things, blocks of wood (and you'll have a hard time deciding which tattoo to get; everything in here would look good, even the damn bridges). The introductions are a tad dry (that's French academicism for you) but informative, especially if you know everything about Hokusai's other work but not much about the Manga. I only wish this book was a little larger, with more examples and maybe a scholarly essay or two. Still, a very nice volume to own and one I'll be flipping through from time to time for inspiration and a smile.

(Weeaboo hoping that the authors will link the Manga to contemporary manga are going to be disappointed, thank god. Bouquillard and Marquet don't go anywhere near that little myth despite Abram's sneaky subtitle. The title of the French edition, by the way, is just plain-ol' Manga.)

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must of anyone who treasures Japanese block print art. Hokusai is the world’s foremost ukiyo-e master. His works are fantastic, and they are presented masterfully in this beautiful book. This book is mostly a collection of Hokusai’s prints on high quality paper. But there is also some discussion of Hokusai and his style.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gravy, this blew me away. A thick book with tons of plates, and a varied collection of works with varied media. Inks and washes and charcoal. Calligraphy and still lifes and cartoons. Certainly influenced me, and made me think of ways to put some of this flavor - whether layout, or canvas, or materials - in my own work.

[Suhaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and ingenious. Who knew the guy most famous for his view of Mount Fuji had such an eye for human foibles and other absurdities?

[Vanlilith · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Sammy C · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh... it wasn't so interesting.

[PSdv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows the works of Hokusai widely known for "The Great Wave off Kanagawa". There is a lot of drawings so different : people, animals, landscape...

[Aaron Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light on biographical data.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good concise selection of Hokusai's Manga. Must have for fans of Japanese art and printmaking or for artists looking to improve drawing practices.

[Elvigine-Sansha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Des beaux dessins, et de bonnes explications sur ce qu'ils sont.

[Arsnoctis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un volumone interamente dedicato al pittore giapponese Hokusai, ricchissimo di riproduzioni di opere originali e parco di didascalie. La nota positiva sul testo è che, pur essendo quantitamente scarso, offre informazioni e aneddoti interessanti e non note ai più.
Si presta molto come lettura da biblioteca, il formato e l'edizione richiamano ciò che gli anglofili amano chiamare "coffee table book". Non adatto alla lettura sui mezzi pubblici nè alla lettura da spiaggia.