British Museum to exhibit 103 rediscovered Hokusai drawings in September

The British Museum in London will publicly display 103 drawings by Katsushika Hokusai in September 2024, marking their first viewing in over 70 years. Acquired in 2023 through a UK Art Fund grant, these postcard-sized works were originally created in 1829 for the unpublished Great Picture Book of Everything. Previously held in a French private collection, they resurfaced in 2019 at Paris's Piasa auction house. Researcher Tim Clark noted the pieces exhibit the fantasy, invention, and brush skill characteristic of Hokusai's late works, calling them a major rediscovery that expands knowledge of his activities during a key period. The drawings depict scenes across history, mythology, and the natural world and are also accessible online. This exhibition follows their acquisition last year, offering global audiences a chance to appreciate these long-unseen artworks.