Tracing the Artistic Evolution: Hokusai's Early Works and Influences

Researching Hokusai's Early Works

To execute the task of researching Hokusai's early works, we first need to understand that Hokusai was a Japanese artist, ukiyo-e painter and printmaker during the Edo period. He was born in 1760 and began painting at the age of six. His early works were heavily influenced by the popular ukiyo-e style of art, which focused on images of the 'floating world' such as scenes from history and the theatre, as well as landscapes, flora, and fauna.

One of Hokusai's earliest known works is a series of illustrations for a book published in 1779 when he was just 19 years old. These illustrations show a strong influence from the ukiyo-e style, with their emphasis on line and form, and their subject matter of everyday life in Japan.

"In the early 1800s, Hokusai began to experiment with a new style of art, influenced by Western techniques and perspectives."

This can be seen in his early landscape prints, such as the "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series, which he began in 1831. These prints show a dramatic use of perspective and detail, and a departure from the traditional ukiyo-e style.

Hokusai's early works show a clear progression in his artistic style, from the traditional ukiyo-e style of his youth, to the more innovative and experimental style of his later years. These early works provide a fascinating insight into the development of one of Japan's most famous artists.