Tokai Gábor szerk.: Fujiyama, A japán szépség Hokusai, Hiroshige fametszetein és fényképeken (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2005/4)

Hokusai - List of Hokusai's exhibited works

List of Hokusai's exhibited works Twenty-eight works from the collection of the National Museum in Cracow Commentaries by Beata Romanowicz, National Museum in Cracow 1 Suruga Street in Edo; the Mitsui Shop. Abridged View / Edo Surugacho Mitsui-mise ryakuzu from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 25.4 x 37.2 cm signature: zen Hokusai litsu hitsu publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi (Eijudo) 1823-1829 MNK VI - 47ö The blue line of the contours, which underscores the silhouettes of the objects in a fine manner, is evidence that the print is part of the original series, Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji. The subsequent renditions featuring the majestic mountain seem to be a pretext for Katsushika Hokusai to look for new formal solutions and to make references to a variety of themes. The woodblock print depicting the snow-covered summit seen between buildings is an example of gradation of dynamics, going from the foreground to the background. The intensity of the workers repairing the roof of the Mitsui shop is framed and frozen at the most dynamic moment when they throw tiles from one to another. Somewhat further on, against the sky, kites soar, carried gently by the wind. And then deeper in the perspective, as if tranquilised into motionlessness, the static Mount Fuji appears. 2 Snowy Morning at Koishikawa / Koishikawa yuki no ashita from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 25.8 x 37.8 cm signature: zen Hokusai litsu hitsu censor's seal: kiwame publisher's seal: Eijudo 1823-1829 MNK VI - 477 Just like the travellers sitting on the porch of a teahouse, we are looking at the snow-covered Fuji, which actually one of the women is pointing to. The roofs of other buildings and the clouds floating by are below the viewer's vision line, which perceivably emphasises the considerable height of the vantage point. 3 Honganji Temple at Asakusa in Edo / Toto Asakusa Honganji from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 26 x 38.2 cm signature: zen Hokusai litsu hitsu publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi (Eijudo) 1823-1829 MNK VI - 478 Although Mt. Fuji is the main protagonist of the series, Hokusai often contrasts its greatness and imperturbability with the fragile, fleeting quality of human figures. This time, on the roof of a temple, among decorative details, the artist has placed five silhouettes of labourers at work. They seem smaller and weaker not only than the majesty of nature, but also than the solid elements of the temple, which after all is manmade. 4 Senju in Musashi Province [Edo] / Bushu Senju from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 35.6 x 38 cm signature: Hokusai zen litsu hitsu publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi (Eijudo) 1823-1829 MNK VI - 479 This time, it seems that Fuji and the waters that surround it are a backdrop for a serene rustic scene. The artist devotes much attention to the figure of a horse whose leaning neck, rising withers and descending line of the rump correspond to the line of the mountain slope. Human figures are shown turned away from the viewer: two anglers are fishing while a villager, who is leading a packhorse, tilts his head backwards to take a look at the majestic mountain. 5 Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa/ Fukagawa Mannen-bashi noshita from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 25.7 x 37.7 cm signature: Hokusai zen litsu hitsu publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi (Eijudo) 1823-1829 MNK VI - 480 The composition surprises us with the central situation of the bridge and an attempt at Western centralised perspective. Perceptible in the trees growing on both sides of the entrance onto the bridge are also attempts at using chiaroscuro, characteristic of the European painting tradition. The whole scene seems to be a joke, based on the idea of mutual observation, as if the wanderers on the bridge peeked at us - viewers admiring the print. 6 Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province [Edo] / Buyo Tsukuda-jima from the series: Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji / Fugaku sanju-rokkei 25.7 x 37.9 cm signature: zen Hokusai litsu hitsu publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi (Eijudo) 1823-1829 MNK VI - 481 A major tide causes unusually high water around the Isle of Tsukuda. Historical sources mention a drainage project launched by the Tokugawa government, involving the dredging of the Sumida river mouth. We will find visual correlation with the silhouette of Mount Fuji in the foregrounded boat: the cargo is arranged in such a way as to form the shape of a triangle.