Hokusai's Great Wave: The Making of a Masterpiece with Dr. Gavin Campbell
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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.
Most wonderful 90 minutes with a whole new look at a well known print - so interesting about the lack of need in Japan for individual accolades. The group is so much more important.
I signed up for this conversation because I had attended Campbell's conversation on geishas and enjoyed it. This conversation far exceeded my expectations. I had no idea how Gavin was going to speak for an hour on one print, but this was so much more than about one print. Gavin's presentations are amazing; he curates photos/presentations that truly bring the subject to life - even a subject hundreds of years old.