Over 100 drawings by master Hokusai, destined for a book that was never published, were rediscovered in a Parisian collection last year after more than 70 years. The British Museum, which already has a large collection of the artist's works, one of the most comprehensive outside of Japan, has announced the acquisition of the portfolio through a grant from the Art Fund, although the amount has not been disclosed. The institution also has a version of the Great Wave, which was sold by the London merchant Israel Goldman.
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The corpus was to appear in The Great Picture Book of Everything, which for some unknown reason was never published. These small-sized sketches offer new clues to the artist's career, which was thought to be less productive during this period, especially after health problems and the death of his second wife. If these drawings were never made public, they mark a turning point in his production, proving that Hokusai was entering the very creative phase which preceded his famous series Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji.
If Heaven had granted me another ten years of life, or even five, I could have become a true painter.
As Tim Clark, researcher and specialist for the British Museum confirms in a press release, “These works are a major new re-discovery, expanding considerably our knowledge of the artist’s activities at a key period in his life and work. All 103 pieces are treated with the customary fantasy, invention and brush skill found in Hokusai’s late works and it is wonderful that they can finally be enjoyed by the many lovers of his art worldwide.”
The 103 drawings were in the possession of the art nouveau collector and jeweler Henri Vever and were last documented in Paris at a sale in 1948. The museum suggests that they remained in a private collection for several decades before resurfacing last year. Israel Goldman sold the works to the museum. He had acquired them during a Parisian sale in 2019, where they were attributed to Katsushika Issai (1821-80), a student of Hokusai. Convinced that they were by the hands of the master, the dealer bought them for 110,000 euros.
"These remarkable prints, hidden from public view for so long, will captivate the British Museum’s audience and beyond. We are delighted to support this important acquisition, considerably enhancing the museum’s outstanding collection of Hokusai’s works, and building on Art Fund’s support for an early print of ‘The Great Wave’ in 2008," stated Jenny Waldman, Director of the Art Fund.
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The subjects of the drawings range from representations of religious, mythological, historical and literary figures to animals, birds, flowers and other natural phenomena, including landscapes. The collection shows a predominance of topics related to China, ancient India, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, and many of these do not appear in any previous Hokusai work. This is particularly the case with the fascinating representations of the origins of human society in ancient China.
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is one of the greatest Japanese artists in history. In his 70-year career, he produced some 3,000 prints, illustrations for over 200 books, hundreds of drawings and over 1,000 paintings. He quickly abandoned subjects traditionally associated with the ukiyo-e ("floating world") school of which he was a part, such as depictions of popular actors and courtesans. Hokusai made it his mission to create images with universal appeal, imbued with a powerful spirituality, mixing subjects from real and imaginary worlds. On his deathbed, he pronounces these last words: "If Heaven had granted me another ten years of life, or even five, I could have become a true painter."
The drawings will soon be presented at a free exhibition announced by the museum, but can currently be viewed online on the institution's website.
