Considered one of the greatest Japanese artists, Hokusai left thousands of work behind him. Encyclopedia of the picture, with over 800 pages and 4000 reasons, the Hokusai Manga was published in 14 volumes between 1814 and 1878. The manga term here refers sketches made over inspiration, that Hokusai probably destined for his students, as a collection of models. Critical, too humorous, Hokusai in his work gives a instantanté of Japanese society of his time. The volumes are published in Edo, the last two after the painter's death. The fund comes from the collection of the acquisitions of Duret itself.
Manual drawings, Manga has a clear didactic function. It is also a collective work as the designer add the work of the engraver and stamper. Legend has it that the Manga has seen an editing start by students of Hokusai, from sketches left by the painter at one of them, in Nagoya in 1812. In reality, the artist of 'based on a Chinese Painting Manual published previously as well as many other Japanese textbook drawings of the Edo era. Filiation which had been noted by the Japanese themselves, from the time. Hokusai's work extends Morikuni including that of the early eighteenth century. He was also influenced by the work of contemporary artists such as Masayoshi. Hokusai also read the work of a Japanese specialist in Dutch studies, Churyo. Documentary fidelity and openness to the world: a strange mix of Japanese know the early nineteenth century.
The boards of the Manga are then presented thematically: Mounting and water Variations in climate and vegetation, animal boards, animal scenes, the man-made world, the world of men, the arts of combat and weapons, The world of monsters, demons and ghosts, deities, warriors and legendary characters. If the illustrations are often in full screen, it is unfortunate that the legends of each party are all placed at the beginning of chapter and not in parallel works, making it impractical to read -and we would have also liked detailed captions, and a comment at the start of chapter provided a little more. For more information, one can nevertheless see the bibliography provided on the last page.
