Ukiyo-e & Hokusai

Discover 100 Japanese prints without needing an art-history degree.

From Hokusai's Great Wave and Red Fuji to Hiroshige's rainstorms, Utamaro's intimate scenes, Kuniyoshi's legends, and Yoshitoshi's changing Japan, Ukiyo-e & Hokusai is a visual introduction to one of Japan's most influential artistic traditions.

Designed specifically for beginners, this book combines beautiful historical prints with short, approachable explanations that help you slow down, look more closely, and notice what makes each image memorable.

Part One introduces the wider world of ukiyo-e through fifty works by five major artists.

Part Two focuses more deeply on Katsushika Hokusai through fifty additional prints spanning mountains, waterfalls, bridges, poetry, plants, crafts, travel, and everyday life.

Inside you'll find:

• 100 historic Japanese prints
• Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro, Kuniyoshi, and Yoshitoshi
• The Great Wave, Red Fuji, and other famous works
• A beginner-friendly introduction to ukiyo-e
• A simple three-look method for understanding any print
• Short explanations of the story, setting, and details behind each work
• "Look Closer" observations that guide your eye
• "Your Turn" questions that make viewing interactive
• Reading routes for five minutes, twenty minutes, or longer
• Scavenger hunts and side-by-side comparison exercises
• A timeline of major artists
• A plain-English glossary
• Guides to woodblock printing, color, composition, and visual storytelling
• Suggestions for museums and online collections where you can continue exploring

You do not need to recognize signatures, read Japanese inscriptions, or know art terminology to enjoy these works.

Start with the image. Notice one thing. Read a little. Then look again.

That second look is where the fun begins.

Ukiyo-e & Hokusai: A Beginner's Guide to 100 Japanese Prints is for Japan lovers, art beginners, travelers, students, and anyone who has ever looked at The Great Wave and wanted to understand what else exists beyond it.