Genroku kasen kaiawase

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Genroku Kasen Kaiawase** by Katsushika Hai (1760–1849), created in 1821, is a exquisite example of *nishikie*—vibrant woodblock prints known as "brocade pictures" for their rich, multicolored layers achieved through multiple carved blocks. Measuring just 203 × 177 mm, this intimate format was ideal for personal collections or albums. Hokusai, a towering figure in ukiyo (pictures of the floating world), masterfully blended everyday beauty with literary elegance here. The title evokes the Genroku era (1688–1704), a golden age of Japanese culture, and *kasen kaiawase* references a traditional s...

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...