Changes

==As an Independent Artist==

==As an Independent Artist==

[[Image:Daruma and Courtesan Hokusai.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A ''[[mitate|mitate-e]]'' [[hanging scroll]] ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' painting by Hokusai, depicting a [[courtesan]] accompanied by [[Daruma]].]]

[[Image:Daruma and Courtesan Hokusai.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A ''[[mitate|mitate-e]]'' [[hanging scroll]] ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' painting by Hokusai, depicting a [[courtesan]] accompanied by [[Daruma]].]]

Hokusai left the Katsukawa school in [[1793]], at the age of 33, expelled according to some accounts. This came shortly after the death of both his master Katsukawa Shunshô, and his own young wife, who left him with a son and two daughters. Taking the name Sôri, he continued to produce works in his own personal style, in a variety of formats (single sheets, books, ''surimono'', etc.) and themes. It is said that his "strikingly individual style [of depictions of] frail, wistful female figure[s]"<ref>Lane. ''Images from the Floating World''. p162.</ref> emerged at this time, and would have cemented his legacy as a first-rate figure artist, had he not gone on to do so much more over the course of his nearly 90 years of life.

Hokusai left the Katsukawa school in [[1793]], at the age of 33, expelled according to some accounts. This came shortly after the death of both his master Katsukawa Shunshô, and his own young wife, who left him with a son and two daughters, Omiyo and Otetsu.<ref name=davis>Kobayashi Tadashi, Julie Nelson Davis (trans.). "The Floating World in Light and Shadow: Ukiyo-e Paintings by Hokusai's Daughter Oi." in Carpenter, John et al (eds). ''Hokusai and his Age''. Hotei Publishing, 2005. pp93-103.</ref> Extremely little is known of their biographies, but some paintings attributed to Otetsu survive, and Omiyo is known to have married book illustrator [[Yanagawa Shigenobu]], who Hokusai then later adopted as his own son.

 

Taking the name Sôri, Hokusai continued to produce works in his own personal style, in a variety of formats (single sheets, books, ''surimono'', etc.) and themes. It is said that his "strikingly individual style [of depictions of] frail, wistful female figure[s]"<ref>Lane. ''Images from the Floating World''. p162.</ref> emerged at this time, and would have cemented his legacy as a first-rate figure artist, had he not gone on to do so much more over the course of his nearly 90 years of life.

In [[1797]], he first took the name "Hokusai." Devoid of the patronage or support network of a school, for a time he peddled his works alongside condiments and calendars in order to make a living. He continued to produce works in a wide variety of themes and formats, and by the early 1800s was quite active in producing book illustrations to meet the demand of a trend at the time for Chinese subjects and Chinese-style images. [[Richard Lane]] comments that his extensive work with Chinese styles and historical themes in this period caused him to drift away from the aspects which made his figures so compelling or beautiful; they lost some of their softness and grace. However, Hokusai's work became much more dramatic in this period, and became stronger in its depictions of natural landscapes and architecture.

In [[1797]], he first took the name "Hokusai." Devoid of the patronage or support network of a school, for a time he peddled his works alongside condiments and calendars in order to make a living. He continued to produce works in a wide variety of themes and formats, and by the early 1800s was quite active in producing book illustrations to meet the demand of a trend at the time for Chinese subjects and Chinese-style images. [[Richard Lane]] comments that his extensive work with Chinese styles and historical themes in this period caused him to drift away from the aspects which made his figures so compelling or beautiful; they lost some of their softness and grace. However, Hokusai's work became much more dramatic in this period, and became stronger in its depictions of natural landscapes and architecture.

During this high point in his career, Hokusai made paintings as well, very expensive commissions as compared to print designs, including many with very lavish colors on gold-foil backgrounds. On a number of occasions he painted for an audience - on at least one occasion, for the shogun - and often painted especially large works, for the sake of display.

During this high point in his career, Hokusai made paintings as well, very expensive commissions as compared to print designs, including many with very lavish colors on gold-foil backgrounds. On a number of occasions he painted for an audience - on at least one occasion, for the shogun - and often painted especially large works, for the sake of display.

Hokusai's second wife died in [[1828]], when the artist was 68. The rest of his family having either married and left home, or passed away, he had been living for a time in a rather difficult arrangement, with his wife, eldest daughter, who had divorced and returned home, and a delinquent grandson. Shortly after his wife's death, Hokusai's daughter and pupil [[Katsushika Oi|Katsushika Ôi]], an artist in her own right, divorced from her husband, and returned to her father's side, remaining with him the rest of his life.

Hokusai's second wife died in [[1828]], when the artist was 68. She had given him another son, Sakijûrô, a daughter, [[Katsushika Oi|Ôi]] (also known as O-ei), and possibly another daughter, Onao. The rest of his family having either married and left home, or passed away, he had been living for a time in a rather difficult arrangement, with his wife, eldest daughter, who had divorced and returned home, and a delinquent grandson. Shortly after his wife's death, Hokusai's daughter and pupil Katsushika Ôi, an artist in her own right, divorced from her husband, and returned to her father's side, remaining with him the rest of his life.

==Later Career==

==Later Career==

行く気散じや  I'll gaily tread<br>

行く気散じや  I'll gaily tread<br>

夏野原      The summer moors<ref>Translation from Lane. ''Images from the Floating World''. p169.</ref>

夏野原      The summer moors<ref>Translation from Lane. ''Images from the Floating World''. p169.</ref>

==References==

==References==