Landscape and Legend

Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai Manga (Sketches of Hokusai)

1812–78

Woodblock-printed books (11 of 15 volumes), 22.5 × 15.5 cm closed. The Art Institute of Chicago

Flowers, grasses and leaves are scattered across an open spread.

• Planned as one volume, it grew to fifteen; the last two appeared after his death.
• Western collectors later bought it as a source of Japanese motifs.
• Manga here means casual sketches, not the modern comic.

Image: Art Institute of Chicago open access · CC0