Hokusai

The National Museum of Asian Art Guimet is now inventorying some 120 works of art signed by or attributed to Hokusai or his studio. Among these works, prints (nishiki-e) – some belonging to series as famous as the Thirty-six Views of the Fuji and also more private editions (surimono) – but also preparatory drawings (hanshita-e), sketches, and a few paintings (nikuhitsu), giving evidence of this less known Hokusai activity.

Yet, in spite of the strong interest shown by French collectors for this master since the end of 19th century, no Hokusai exhibition was ever organized by the Guimet Museum. Only a few of his prints are exhibited, once a year, in our Japanese art galleries.

In 2001, an outstanding donation allowed by Norbert LAGANE has disclosed the Dragon among clouds, an original and unpublished painting signed by Hokusai ; Pr. Nagata discovered in 2005 that this kakemono was forming a pair with the Tiger under the Rain kept by the Ota Museum.

Again, in 2002 and 2003, the Guimet Museum could realize new acquisitions in public sales, gathering several preparatory drawings (hanshita-e) and a Fuji View printed in blue, all coming from the Bérès collection.

Our next exhibition will give an opportunity to gather and present for the first time all these recently entered Hokusai works, and also the more ancient collection, coming mostly from the Louvre Museum, specially restored or remounted in this view.

Lastly, beyond our duty to display a collection probably better known by French public around 1900 than today, remains the question about this collection’s history as well as history of art critic. From the Edmond de Goncourt Hokusai, printed in 1896, in what degree has our appreciation changed? Through Hokusai works collected by our museum, echoing activity of the main collectors, we will try to propose an answer.

Katsushika Hokusai