Now available again, this delightful selection of prints depicting nineteenth century Japan's natural beauty is a colourful introduction to the country's most beloved artist. The Japanese artist Hokusai spent the second half of his life sketching and painting with tremendous energy nearly everything he saw, and this book focuses on one of his most productive periods, when the artist was in his seventies. This book presents fifty works of the artist's astonishing oeuvre. It includes selections from his renowned series of woodblock prints, Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, including "In the Hollow of a Wave," "Shower below the Summit," and "South Wind at Clear Dawn." Also presented are images of flowers, waterfalls, bridges, birds, and fish, demonstrating the uniquely precise yet passionate quality of Hokusai's art. An expert on the artist's work, Matthi Forrer provides illuminating commentary on Hokusai's life and technique, offering insight into his enduring popularity throughout the world. AUTHOR: Matthi Forrer is an independent curator and the author of numerous books on Hokusai and Japanese art, including Hokusai and Hiroshige: Prints and Drawings (both by Prestel). SELLING POINTS: . Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is one of Japan's preeminent artists, whose prints and drawings are immediately recognisable. His beautiful woodcuts of the Japanese landscape and the natural world are popular around the world. . This book brings together Hokusai's most important paintings and prints, including his famous wave, landscapes, views of Mount Fuji, cityscapes, and erotic prints. 148 colour illustrations