Hokusai's Illustrated Books on Display at MAO Turin

Eight illustrated books (e-hon) by Katsushika Hokusai are temporarily exhibited in the Japanese section of the MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale in Turin until October 21. From October 23, they will be replaced by volumes by other authors. The selection showcases Hokusai's versatility, inventiveness, and formal precision. Among the works is 'Shaka Goichidaiki Zu'e' (Illustrated History of the Life of Shakyamuni), which depicts a fantastical India adapted to Japanese taste, filled with bizarre animals and imaginative architecture, despite Hokusai never having visited India. The exhibition also includes two volumes from the series 'Fugaku Hyakkei' (One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji), described as a happy union of artistic flair and extraordinary technical skill in engraving and printing, paying homage to the mountain that continues to inspire Japanese artists. Another notable book is 'Toshisen Gahon' (Selected Tang Poems Illustrated), where Hokusai adds visual comments to Chinese poetic compositions from the Tang dynasty (7th-10th centuries), enriching the classical Chinese setting with details from both China and Japan of his time. The books span different periods of Hokusai's prolific career, with the first display case featuring works from his mature phase.