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Hokusai's Great Wave: The Making of a Masterpiece with Dr. Gavin Campbell

Hokusai's Great Wave: The Making of a Masterpiece with Dr. Gavin Campbell


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) called himself “the man insane for drawing.” He worked in every genre, from exquisite scroll paintings for wealthy connoisseurs to cheap woodblock prints for the masses. He was one of the most famous artists of the day. So when a publisher announced a new Hokusai woodblock print series titled 36 Views of Mt. Fuji, everyone knew to expect something special. They were not disappointed.

The Great Wave is the product of an artist at the peak of his career, pushing himself to explore the outer edges of his creativity. It was also the product of a vibrant print culture centered in Edo (contemporary Tokyo) that chronicled the city’s vivid popular culture. By exploring both Hokusai’s creativity and the print culture from which The Great Wave emerged, we will gain a fuller understanding of both the print's meaning and its broad popularity.

Led by an expert on Japanese history, Dr. Gavin Campbell, this interactive seminar will explore the genius of Hokusai through his greatest work. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of Hokusai's creative genius and of the culture in which he lived.

Gavin received a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and came to Kyoto in 2001. He is a Ph.D. professor of history at Doshisha University. His teaching and research revolve around Japan's cultural encounters with the West, particularly during the Edo, Meiji, Taisho and early Showa periods (1600-1940), and he has published on the history of foreign tourism and of Protestant missionaries in Japan. To further explore Japan's global cultural encounters, he is currently writing a book on the history of Japanese menswear from the 1600s through the early 20th century. He is also an expert on Kyoto geisha culture and a frequent participant in geisha entertainment.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 25 reviews
100%
(25)
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k
k. (Seattle, US)
eye-opening appreciation of Japanese prints

Not only is this a thorough examination of the Great Wave but also a discussion of Japanese art and religious culture. Highly recommend

C
C.L. (Seattle, US)
Interesting view of Hokusai’s The Wave

It was interesting to learn about the mass production of these prints as well as the different dyes used to create the blues.

M
M. (Washington, US)
Learned a lot!

Excellent presentation that greatly broadened my understanding of this iconic art and the process of making it.

G
Gerald Rosenberg (San Jose, US)

Guest did not leave comment

G
Gerald Rosenberg (San Jose, US)

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 25 reviews
100%
(25)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
k
k. (Seattle, US)
eye-opening appreciation of Japanese prints

Not only is this a thorough examination of the Great Wave but also a discussion of Japanese art and religious culture. Highly recommend

C
C.L. (Seattle, US)
Interesting view of Hokusai’s The Wave

It was interesting to learn about the mass production of these prints as well as the different dyes used to create the blues.

M
M. (Washington, US)
Learned a lot!

Excellent presentation that greatly broadened my understanding of this iconic art and the process of making it.

G
Gerald Rosenberg (San Jose, US)

Guest did not leave comment

G
Gerald Rosenberg (San Jose, US)

Guest did not leave comment