Katsushika Hokusai: A Master of the Ephemeral Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as a towering figure in Japanese art history, not merely for his prolific output – an estimated thirty thousand works spanning painting, prints, and illustrations – but for his revolutionary approach to subject matter and technique. Born Tokitarō in Edo (modern Tokyo), he adopted the name Hokusai, meaning “Mountain-Pass Artist,” reflecting a desire to…