Hokusai Katsushika, also known as Hokusai, was a Japanese ukiyo-e painter and printmaker during the Edo period. He is best known for his iconic woodblock print series, Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which includes the famous print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Hokusai’s artistic style and his philosophical views on life continue to inspire and influence artists around the world. In this article, we have compiled a collection of Hokusai quotes that reflect his profound wisdom and insights.
Hokusai believed in the importance of constant growth and improvement in one’s artistic skills. He once said, “From the age of six, I had a mania for drawing the shapes of things. When I was fifty, I had published a universe of designs. But all I have done before the age of seventy is not worth bothering with. At seventy-five, I’ll have learned something of the pattern of nature, of animals, of plants, of trees, birds, fish, and insects. When I am eighty, you will see real progress. At ninety, I shall have cut my way deeply into the mystery of life itself. At one hundred, I shall be a marvelous artist. At one hundred and ten, everything I create; a dot, a line, will jump to life as never before.”
Hokusai’s love for nature is evident in his works and his quotes. He believed that understanding the beauty of nature is essential for an artist. He once said, “If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter.” This quote reflects his eternal longing to capture the essence of nature in his art. Hokusai also emphasized the importance of observing and studying nature, stating, “The understanding of nature is the foundation of all art.”
Read these Hokusai quotes
“From the age of six, I had a mania for drawing the shapes of things. When I was fifty, I had published a universe of designs. But all I have done before the age of seventy is not worth bothering with. At seventy-five, I’ll have learned something of the pattern of nature, of animals, of plants, of trees, birds, fish, and insects. When I am eighty, you will see real progress. At ninety, I shall have cut my way deeply into the mystery of life itself. At one hundred, I shall be a marvelous artist. At one hundred and ten, everything I create; a dot, a line, will jump to life as never before.”
“If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter.”
“The understanding of nature is the foundation of all art.”
“From the age of six, I had a mania for drawing the shapes of things.”
“I have never stopped drawing since 6 years of age. But at the age of 73, I partly understood the structure of animals, birds, insects, and fishes. At 90, I will enter into the secret of things. At 110, everything, every dot, every dash will live.”
“If I put the spirit of my entire being into a single line, it would be a line of great beauty.”
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
“The great waves of Kanagawa are only water; Hokusai is only paint.”
“Beyond the great wave, Mount Fuji stands silently, a symbol of eternity.”
“Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also, learn from holy books and wise people.”
“No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”
“The more you love, the more you can love.”
“Art is the soul made visible.”
“In all my work, I have tried to bring out the beauty of life and nature.”
“From the gods to the insects, everything in this world has its own beauty.”
“Every day, I learn something new from nature.”
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
“The sound of water says what I think.”
“Every stroke counts when you are painting a masterpiece.”
“Art is the greatest teacher.”
“Strive for progress, not perfection.”
“A work of art is the trace of a magnificent struggle.”
These quotes by Hokusai provide a glimpse into the mind of a visionary artist who dedicated his life to capturing the beauty of nature. They serve as a reminder to constantly seek growth, observe the world around us, and find inspiration in the simplest of things. Hokusai’s profound wisdom continues to resonate with artists and art enthusiasts, making his legacy immortal in the art world.
