Hokusai and Emotion

Introduction

Whether tragedy or comedy, the emotional ups and downs of its characters are an important part of what makes any story appealing. The tales enjoyed by the people of Edo are no exception, and we can see a variety of emotions depicted in the illustrations that Hokusai produced for printed books.
Hokusai became active as an illustrator of yomihon (“books for reading”) titles beginning in his mid-forties. The books he produced in collaboration with writers of popular literature such as Kyokutei Bakin and Ryūtei Tanehiko captured the hearts of the people of Edo and became runaway hits. Hokusai’s illustrations undoubtedly fascinated readers for a variety of reasons—including their meticulous depictions and bold compositions—but the interesting ways he conveyed emotion also surely played a part. One story might show a character engulfed in sadness and shedding tears while another depicts someone rejoicing before a large sum of money. Such rich expressions of emotion captivated readers, drawing them deeper into the worlds of each tale.
This exhibition focuses primarily on expressions of emotion by the characters who appear in Hokusai’s illustrations for printed books. We hope you enjoy these depictions of sorrow, astonishment, delight, and a variety of other emotions.