Hokusai Turtles (北斎の亀)

Designer: Katsushika Hokusai | Carver: David Bull | Printer: Yasue Tsushima

Paper size: 15.5cm by 11cm | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [HC] ?

Price: $ 40.00£ 32.25€ 36.75

Description: 'After Hokusai' ... what does that mean? Shouldn't many of the prints in this catalogue be described in a similar fashion, being made from newly-cut blocks based on existing designs? Reproductions ... reprints ... restrikes ... what a tangled mess of descriptions are used for prints like these! I am mostly going to use the word 'reproduction' for those prints in this catalogue that we have produced with a good sense of fidelity to the original version; the Gakutei Crow is a good example. Some of the prints may not be the same shape or size as the original - like the Shoso Plums - but if the design is inherently unchanged, 'reproduction' is how it will be described.

This one though, is different. There isn't enough left of the 'original' to warrant describing it as a 'Hokusai', but as he is where the 'seed' came from, it seems only fair to use his name that way.

Exhibit #1: a snapshot of a page from the Hokusai Manga, the famous collection of books of 'sketches' and designs issued in the early 1800's, and which has remained hugely popular ever since.

 

Exhibit #2: a scan of a portion of a woodblock print by Hokusai issued in the 1830's.

 

Exhibit #3: one of the prints in David's 'Hanga Treasure Chest' collection, published in 2005, and which played on a similar theme - using a clip from a Hokusai image, and making it into a completely different print.

 

So of course, this one came together the same way. A 'reproduction' it isn't; an 'original' it isn't ... but whatever you call it, I hope you like it!