Hokusai And Japan in the Floating World

Wednesday, March 2, 6:00 PM: Hokusai and Japan in the Floating World

In this program Tom Silver will explore the work of Japan’s most famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), in the context of his life and times. The lecture will focus on Hokusai’s best known prints, along with examples of his paintings and drawings. Hokusai’s enduring fame can be attributed largely to his 1830 print, “Under the Wave Off Kanagawa”, from the series 36 Views of Mt. Fuji. Tom will explore a sampling of prints from that series and others, and explain how they incorporate Western ideas in painting. He’ll also look at how classical Japanese prints influenced such Western masters as Monet, Picasso, and Henri Toulouse–Lautrec.

Tom Silver, a Barnstable resident, is a retired banker, classical guitarist and recording artist who developed an interest in Japanese prints while searching for an unusual gift for his wife. That search sparked a love for this art which grew to encompass Japanese history and culture generally. Mr. Silver’s talks at libraries and other institutions showcase print masterpieces covering the 350-year history of the Japanese print genre.

Email tthorpe@clamsnet.org to sign up and get the Zoom invite.

Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library. 508-645-3360