Is this an original Hokusai ink wash?

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > Creative Convention > Is this an original Hokusai ink wash?

Uglycat: Dec 4, 2000; MORE INDISPUTABLE PROOF I AM BAD AT POSTING
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https://youtu.be/fJDzTBZIc2E

Traveling as I do (I just adventure indefinitely), I came across this cat near Boston. He's got this piece in his closet. I think it might be a legit Hokusai. I keep a sony mirrorless with me at all times, with a 50mm f1.4 and a 135mm f2.8 (antique nikkon glass), so I can shoot a few different ways (including two levels of macro). I shot this video this afternoon.

It's a monocolor ink wash of a samauri, sword drawn, with a moon. It's 27 inches tall, 10 inches wide. Not a print. Very old paper.

What do you think? I can take pictures, close-ups of whatever you want explored deeper. We can even remove it from the frame and photograph it without the glass, but I decided not to do so yet.

# ? Feb 21, 2018 23:41

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# ? Apr 25, 2024 00:45

Jeza: Feb 13, 2011; The cries of the dead are terrible indeed; you should try not to hear them.

Certainly in the style of.

This is from one of Hokusai's samurai manga, and I'd say this is just a mirrored version with some minor alterations. Unfortunately, many, many people used Hokusai's mangas as study books as artists. Without further information on provenance or expert analysis, it's impossible to say whether this is legitimately by him, one of his students, or a study by another artist.

# ? Feb 27, 2018 15:29

Uglycat: Dec 4, 2000; MORE INDISPUTABLE PROOF I AM BAD AT POSTING
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Jeza posted:

Certainly in the style of.

This is from one of Hokusai's samurai manga, and I'd say this is just a mirrored version with some minor alterations. Unfortunately, many, many people used Hokusai's mangas as study books as artists. Without further information on provenance or expert analysis, it's impossible to say whether this is legitimately by him, one of his students, or a study by another artist.

Thank you

Yeah, that samurai looks to be wearing/wielding very similar gear as the one in question, fascinating.I've looked through some pieces that have gone at auction, and there are a few that are listed as 'attributed to Hokusai' that looked remarkably similar in style, paper quality and paper fold. I don't have any provenance on it, but where might one go to get expert analysis?

# ? Feb 27, 2018 20:32

Jeza: Feb 13, 2011; The cries of the dead are terrible indeed; you should try not to hear them.

Uglycat posted:

Thank you Yeah, that samurai looks to be wearing/wielding very similar gear as the one in question, fascinating.I've looked through some pieces that have gone at auction, and there are a few that are listed as 'attributed to Hokusai' that looked remarkably similar in style, paper quality and paper fold. I don't have any provenance on it, but where might one go to get expert analysis?

You could do worse than contacting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, as it has the largest collection of Japanese Art outside of Japan. A little legwork also brings up Alberts-Langdon, a private Asian Arts dealership in Boston where you can go for an appraisal. Be aware that if it can't be answered at a glance, it will cost money.

# ? Feb 27, 2018 23:56

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > Creative Convention > Is this an original Hokusai ink wash?