Welcome to 4H

Teacher: Mr. Higgins

Teaching Assistant: Ms. Dilan

Welcome to the 4 H Hokusai page. This year at Bruce Grove Primary we have chosen to name our classes after famous artists, and as I have lived in Japan for ten years I decided to name our class after Katsushika Hokusai, the famous ukiyo-e painter. The children have made a great start to school so far and I look forward to seeing them continue to progress throughout the year. For details on our Autumn curriculum please see below. 

   Three Interesting Hokusai facts

Hokusai had at least 30 different pen names

In Hokusai’s time, it was not uncommon for Japanese artists to switch and change pen or artist names multiple times. Hokusai utilized various names: Shunro Katsukawa (which he received from his master Katsukawa), Sori, Kako, Taito, Gakyujin, Iitsu, Manji and Gakyoryojinmanji, which meant “the old man mad about art.”

Hokusai inspired many artists in the West 

The Great Wave uses a blue pigment imported from Prussia, but it was actually painted between 1830-32 during Sakoku, a period of time when Japan was secluded from the rest of the world.

When the borders opened in the 1850s, Hokusai’s work was recognised by his European contemporaries; Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec became collectors and Vincent Van Gogh’s own work was heavily influenced.

Claude Debussy was even inspired to write La mer after seeing The Great Wave.

Hokusai was the first artist to use the term manga

In 1814, when Hokusai was in his 50s, he published the first volume of Hokusai Manga, a collection of detailed pictures of animals and various objects. The publication was intended for aspiring artists to copy and learn how to draw and paint. It quickly became a bestseller.

        HERE ARE SOME USEFUL INTERNET LINKS:   

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