"France Nantes 'EXPOSITION HOKUSAI' Homecoming Exhibition: Hokusai's Masterpieces in Obuse" Opens at the Hokusai Museum in Obuse, Nagano. Exploring Hokusai's Artistic Career through about 160 Works Including "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji"
The Hokusai Museum in Obuse, Nagano, opens a homecoming exhibition on October 24 featuring about 160 Hokusai works from the successful Nantes show.Summary
The Hokusai Museum in Obuse, Nagano, will open on October 24 the exhibition "France Nantes 'EXPOSITION HOKUSAI' Homecoming Exhibition: Hokusai's Masterpieces in Obuse," commemorating the museum's 50th anniversary. This is a homecoming version of the exhibition held in 2025 at the Château des ducs de Bretagne in Nantes, France, which attracted about 150,000 visitors. The museum will display its entire collection of about 160 Hokusai works at once.
The exhibition features famous ukiyo-e series such as "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," "Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces," and "A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces," along with important early works including actor prints from when Hokusai called himself "Sōri" and surimono prints. It also highlights the beautiful, lyrical world of kyōka poetry that was highly praised in Nantes. From the museum's rich collection of paintings, diverse works are shown, including the typical "Sōri-style beauties" such as "Beauty Holding an Umbrella under a Willow," "Shirabyōshi," and "Two Beauties," as well as landscape "Ferryboat in a Landscape" and bird-and-flower paintings "Bellflower" and "Chrysanthemum."
In addition to the artworks, the exhibition introduces the history of Nantes and the Château des ducs de Bretagne, as well as the collection of the Nantes History Museum. Special displays will allow visitors to learn about Nantes's history of thriving maritime trade and shipbuilding, reflecting the broadening of Japan-France cultural exchange.
(Source：美術手帖)