How Did Hokusai Create The Great Wave? | Christie's

Japanese artist Takuji Hamanaka takes us inside his Brooklyn studio to explain why he adopted a centuries-old technique to create contemporary woodblock prints.

‘When I started printmaking in Tokyo, Hokusai was one of the artists who was unavoidable,’ says Japanese printmaker Takuji Hamanaka, discussing the enduring influence of the artist who created one of Japan’s most iconic artworks, The Great Wave.

Although two centuries separate Hamanaka from Hokusai, the contemporary artist’s printmaking has been shaped by the same techniques employed by his predecessor. Working in his Brooklyn studio, he begins by pasting an image drawn on fine paper onto wood. Hours of meticulous carving follow — a ‘therapeutic process’ that, Hamanaka admits, requires the patience of ‘a certain type of person’.

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[charlie-obrien]

For over 20 years I have owned a Japanese Block print by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949).
I did not know a single thing about it except that I liked it and paid $35 for it at an estate sale.
I have recently begun researching my print and the art of Japanese block printing and it is a wondrous discipline and beautiful
craft. This young artist, Takuji Hamanaka is creating prints that will be collected and honored for hundreds of years.

[JJ-zghh]

I would like to see this video increased from 4 minutes to 1 hour! Fabulous craftsmanship and what a stunning image he created. In fact I could watch this guy work all day long.

[Ok-gmqx]

I'm sick of wars..Art is so peaceful.

[JapanMediaTour]

Hokusai's Great Wave is truly a masterpiece. Staring at it always takes my mind down rabbit holes for hours on end

[wheezybrownbear]

its crazy how contemporary hakusai's work looks

[StedelijkMuseumAmsterdam]

Impressive process. Very relaxing to watch.

[alamaamosa]

His description of the process covers all the aspects of design, history technjque methodology and philosophy.bringing the conventional into the contempoary. I love how he describes the restrictions can create liberty by pushing the boundaries re examing not only the artist but a reform of ideas into a computer savy world.Through the artist eyes quote ;Vui Alama

[jmalmsten]

Very little info about the actual woodcut painting technique... :(

[SmallGnomeGaming]

The title of this video is misleading. Mostly everything in this video Hokusai had no part of. He created the general design of the image, but this was then passed on to the woodblock carver and the print maker (what we are seeing now), in which those two shops would then make his design a reality. So they had the brunt of the work with the carving of the multiple blocks, and the decision on how to color and what colors to use on the design.

[thomasodonnell]

I have been fascinated with these woodblock prints since my 20s, after moving to San Francisco. I was introduced to them by older friends, mostly war vets, who had been staitioned in Japan after WWII and during the Korean conflict. It wasn't until I returned home (Maryland) years later that I began reading about the artists and the methods used in creating these beautuful works of art. The artist would paint a scene and collaborate with the printers, who used a team to carve out the scene. Too much to tell here, but the colirs are added in layers.

[boogiedownbronx]

i like how calm he talks makes me almost fall a sleep in a good way....i think he studied Buddhism because he really speaks as if he is meditating and the way he talks about his craft is very typical for Japanese....

[huntrrams]

This was so satisfying to watch!

In fact, in Narita airport in Tokyo, there's a little workshop on Japanese culture and crafts. When I was there last year, one of the crafts was to remake Hokusai's the Great Wave with these techniques(except the wood was carved)! It was both interesting and the final result looked so beautiful and surreal.

[ozzyg]

I like his voice and his reflections on the art work.

[gooshidildos]

David bull if you want to know more about the technical aspects of the oldest surviving Great Wave prints

[ancientsociety]

what he said about restrictions leading to more freedom is deep. It makes me think of the original super Mario bros. soundtrack. Koji Kondo was restricted by hardware to only 4 tracks. It forced him to dig deep and create a soundtrack that didn't waste a single note, and yet conveyed so much. had he been given 8 tracks, its possible we may not have gotten those masterpieces. Ultimately he was able to compose full scale, but the theme of every Mario song traces back to the original theme. It is the essence of it all.

[touchheartyoga]

I close my eyes and yesterday is reborn, thank you

[nellbert]

Was recommended to me today. Cool video.

[tinybed]

ooh lovely! keeping old traditions alive in this day and age is a real blessing and spectacle :-)

[AvuzwaKeei]

I've seen this wave a lot but I never knew it had such a rich history.

[heyheytaytay]

I have the Great Wave tattooed on my chest. Was an impulsive decision and my second tattoo but I've never regretted getting it.