Edmond de Goncourt 
Hokusai [PDF ebook] 

Through his elegant brush paintings and masterful woodblocks, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) became one of Japan’s most internationally-renowned artists. A master of Ukiyo-e art, he single-handedly transformed the art form from a simple style focused on courtesans and famous actors into a grander style depicting the beauty of nature seen through landscapes and wildlife. His style of art and subject evolved as many times as he changed his name, but Hokusai’s talent as an artist remained constant and his influential role in later art movements such as Art Nouveau and Impressionism remains eternal.