Audiotur 11 - Hokusai’s Global Influence and Legacy

“Monet considered himself a ‘faithful follower of Hokusai.’”
“Degas declared that ‘Hokusai is not just another artist of the Floating World—he is an island, a continent, an entire world unto himself.’”

Over two hundred students studied directly under Hokusai—among them luminaries such as Hokkei Todoya, Hokuga Manjirō, Harunobu Gakutei, Hokuba Teisai, and Hokusai Taito (also known as Genryūsai). These pupils carried his techniques into new generations, ensuring his approaches to line, composition, and the expressive wave motif would endure.

Even during Hokusai’s own lifetime, his wave imagery reached extraordinary popularity. Hiroshige imitated Hokusai’s style, and Yoshitoshi paid homage in later woodblocks. Hokusai’s masterpieces crossed Japan’s shores to Europe—brought by English traders—and ignited the imaginations of the Impressionists.

A striking testament to Hokusai’s far-reaching impact appears in Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” There, the swirling sky echoes Hokusai’s dynamic wave forms, merging Japanese compositional spirit with Van Gogh’s own expressive brushwork. This remarkable blending of East and West highlights how Hokusai’s vision transcends both geography and time, continuing to inspire artists and audiences around the world.