Illustrations of Chinese Poems Chosen from Toshisen's Book (Tōshisen ehon 唐詩撰畫本) : [volume 5]

Katsushika, Hokusai, 1760-1849 · 1833 · Edo : Kobayashi Shinbei, 小林新兵衛 · 4 pictures

A woodblock-printed volume from Edo, Japan, issued in 1833 by the publisher Kobayashi Shinbei and made by Katsushika Hokusai, illustrating Chinese poems for a Japanese readership. The spreads show the landscapes and scenes that the poems evoke. The pages are open double spreads with fine ink line, dense hatching for water and foliage, and open white sky. A designer could draw on the economical contour lines, stippled rock and wave textures, and the clear placement of small figures within large landscapes.

Chinese poetry

Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art · No known copyright restrictions · More from this library