| Title: |
Surprise Attack: Chugi Suikoden Ehon (Portraits of Suikoden Heroes) |
| Artist: |
Hokusai, Katsushika (Tokyo (Edo), Japan, 1760 - 1849) |
| Date: |
1829 |
| Medium: |
Original Japanese Woodcut (Diptych) |
| Publisher: |
Hanabusaya Heikichi |
| Printer: |
Hanabusaya Heikichi |
| Note: |
Katsushika Hokusai: The most influential Japanese master of
landscapes and figure studies, Katsushika Hokusai created many masterpieces throughout
his long and productive life. Studying under Shunsho, Hokusai's earliest
art was devoted to competent actor prints and figure studies in the style
of his master. Then, in the first decade of the nineteenth century, Hokusai's
tireless studies led him to examine both Western art and Chinese paintings
and prints. He thus broke from the standard 'Ukiyo-e' style to forge a
path for his own unique genius. This would lead him to some of the greatest
artistic examinations of the relationship between man and nature in the
history of art, such as, Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji (1831) and Fugaku hyakkei (One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji) (1834-1835). |
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Throughout his career Hokusai devoted much of talents to
the art of the book. He became in fact close friends with some of Japan's
most widely read novelists, poets and translators, such as Takizawa Bakin,
Emba and Takai Ranzan. Hokusai's illustrative art is vital to an understanding
of his superb genius. One authority writes,
"The great strength of Hokusai's
illustrations to these popular novels is the artist's enormous imagination
and vision. His designs are really of great compositional vitality, almost
unparalleled at the time. His heroes not only were an example to later
followers; the strong emphasis on interaction between the figures, combined
with visionary and balanced compositions must have been appreciated." *
These words clearly apply to this brilliant, original woodcut. |
| |
Apart from being a superb composition, Surprise
Attack is a pivotal work of art. It hails from the 1829 novel, Chugi Suikoden Ehon ("Portraits
of Suikoden Heroes"), by Takai Ranzan. Ranzan was the great expert and delineator of
Chinese myth and legend, and the Chinese Suikoden -- the so called 'Dog Heroes -- formed a
cornerstone of Chinese folklore. Once these important writings of Ranzan and woodcuts of Hokusai were
introduced into Japanese culture they helped to shape both the development and mystique of the warrior
classes of Japan, such as the Ronin and the Samurai. |
| |
Chugi Suikoden Ehon proved to be very popular and
in the following years Ranzan and Hokusai collaborated on other projects
such as the Chinese T'ang poems, Toshisen ehon (1833) and Ehon
Chukyo (1834). As well, Hokusai's heroic art from this period did not escape
the attention of his great Utagawa school rival, Kuniyoshi (Japan, 1797-1861).
The two artists entered into open competition with each other and Kuniyoshi
launched a fine series of oban sized woodcuts of the Chinese heroes. It's
amazing to contemplate that these two giants of 19th century Japanese
art thus challenged each other to create even greater works of woodcut
art. |
| |
Surprise Attack from the Portraits of Suikoden Heroes
is a masterpiece of form, line and function. In this original Japanese woodcut,
(Diptych), the attack, represented only by enveloping clouds of smoke, is fully
delineated in all its fury by the agonized gestures of the four warriors.
Their masterfully described reactions make us hear and feel the full force of
destruction. Only a genius such as Hokusai could imply so much so simply. |
| Raisonne: |
Richard Lane, Images from the Floating World: The Japanese
Print, Dorset Press, New York, 1982, p. 275. Catalogue #219. |
| Source: |
Chugi Suikoden Ehon "Portraits of The Suikoden Heroes" |
| Reference: |
* Matti Forrer, Hokusai, Rizzoli, New York, 1988, p. 141 and pp. 258 & 259. |
| Size: |
8 X 6 (X 2 Two Panels Diptych) Small Chuban () (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| |
View
Framed Image: |
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 |
| Buy Now |
Price: $685.00 US |
| Condition: |
Printed on early nineteenth century Japanese mulberry (rice)
paper and with full margins as published by Heikichi in 1829 in Chugi
Suikoden Ehon. A fine, early impression and in excellent condition throughout.
This original diptych woodcut is a prime example of the superb art of
Hokusai, one of Japan's greatest masters. |
| Important Information: |
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