The Allure of Superhuman Strength

Introduction

Characters with superhuman strength who subdue wild beasts or break through iron gates can be found in stories from all times and places. Such powerful figures also frequently appear in Hokusai’s art.
Hokusai used many different names over the course of his career but began using the one by which he is best known—Katsushika Hokusai—in his late forties while active as an illustrator of yomihon historical novels. The energetic tales told in Edo Period yomihon were brought to life by the astonishing feats of strength performed by their mighty protagonists.
For example, the hero of Strange Tales of the Crescent Bow, Minamoto no Tametomo, wields a bow that even two normal men cannot draw, and when rough waves make it impossible to anchor his ship at sea, he single-handedly pulls it to shore. One of the appealing characters in An Illustrated New Edition of the Water Margin, Lu Zhishen, rescues his sworn brother by demonstrating his strength in splitting a pine tree in two. Hokusai vividly illustrates the superhuman strength of such characters in ways that really pack a punch.
Hokusai seems to have maintained an interest in such mighty figures throughout his life. In his late seventies, he published books of warrior pictures such as Picture Book of the Warrior Vanguard in Japan and China and its sequel Picture Book of the Stirrups of Musashi. In them, Hokusai describes his approach to depicting strong characters, stating that “to fully convey their vigor, one must set aside classical elegance and appeal to common passions.”
This exhibition showcases Hokusai’s portrayal of superhuman strength, focusing primarily on his illustrations for woodblock-printed books. We hope you enjoy this exploration of Hokusai’s powerful figural depictions that contrast with his images of landscapes and beautiful women.