Curator's Tour of Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything |

Thanks to the, quite frankly, overwhelming number of requests to see more of the Hokusai drawings from 'The Great Picture Book of Everything', we've put together a tour of more of Hokusai's drawings!
Prepare yourself for mythical birds, mythical landscapes, the mythical origins of alcohol and some very real masterpieces from the hand of the great Japanese artist, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849).
If you'd like to buy Tim Clark's book on the drawings, you can get it here: bit.ly/3CiiKBj
And if you can make it to London, grab a ticket for the exhibition here: bit.ly/3lxs0L3
You can explore any and all of the British Museum's Hokusai prints on the Museum website here: britishmuseum.org/collection
Content Warning:
Does not contain anatomically questionable elephants, or Hokusai's favourite duck.
Double Content Warning:
Does contain anatomically questionable tigers, and just a glorious amount of Hokusai!
#CuratorsTour #Hokusai #BritishMuseumTour

[@britishmuseum]

Well, you seemed to really like just about everything to do with Alfred's Curator's Corner episode, didn't you? That is except for the fact that there just weren't enough drawings. So we've put together a curator's tour of the exhibition, to show you even more of these works. Also one of you lovely commenters gets a shout out. See you at 18.15 BST!

[@j0nnyism]

I’m very interested in how the woodblock cutters turned these into prints. I would really like a video on this topic. These forgotten tradesmen had tremendous skill

[@dianneledford3681]

Thank you so very much appreciate it I will be watching this over an over an he is so informative I really do hope to see many more again thank you for sharing

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

xD i felt like i had seen this clip before when the introduction started ... now i know why^^ Great to see more of Hokusai's drawings. thx alot

[@NeonsStyleHD]

This is how you should do these. Showing off the exhibition to all those who will never have the opportunity to be there to see it.

[@SilverMoonyLuna]

Anyone else wish this was longer? 😅 Thank you for sharing!

[@ratlips4363]

When I was 4-6 years old, from 1954 to 1956 we lived in Tokyo. My mother who was an art major used to go out into the Japanese countryside and buy artwork from people that were looking for ways to create an income so close to the end of the war. As a result, I have a Hokusai that has been been in the family since those days

[@spmoran4703]

Hokusai inspired many artists in Japan and in other lands . A true genius .

[@Angayasse]

Thank you British Museum!!! This is a real gift as I will not be able to get to London to see this live.

[@leftyfourguns]

These drawings, their style, their technique, all look so modern despite being nearly 300 years old. Hokusai is easily one of the most influential artists in history but is often so underappreciated

[@tonyk1584]

Prior to these two videos, if were at the museum, I would have skipped this room. Now were I to visit it would be the first place I would go. Stuck in the states, damned virus.

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you so much! I really enjoyed Alfred's Curator's Corner and bought the book, so I'm delighted to see this new video, too. As I can't travel, I'm so very grateful for being able to see these films. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@injujuan8993]

Hello Susan! Would you mind telling me where did you get the book? I’d love to have one. Thank you and have a lovely day!🌷😘

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

@@injujuan8993 likely the exhibition had its own edition i am gonna try amazon - but am currently homeless. my hokusai art books big are in expesive storage you'd LOVE the views of TŌKAIDŌ ! the famous road to edo which became the name of that Top martial arts dōgi i had a couple lost in homelessness but probably one is there somewhere in storage $460 a month..

[@robertpetre9378]

Beautiful artwork by Hokusai he was a very talented artist indeed.

[@user-wk1mw9nj3i76]

Thank you for this chance to see these master drawings. Utterly fascinating!! From Minnesota, USA.

[@coreygrua3271]

A look into a faraway time and place. Delightful in so many ways. Thank you.

[@mariellouise1]

I am feeling really stupid as I had never noticed the boats and the fishermen. Maybe because cards are small and the wave is big or maybe I’m just blind to small detail. Now the print means more to me than the amazing wave. Loved this talk. It could be even longer!

[@britishmuseum]

No reason to feel stupid. One of the reasons Alfred pointed out the boats and Mt Fuji in the background is that they are so easily missed, particularly as the colour of the boats (originally yellow) has faded quite a bit in many of the prints of the Great Wave. We've got a whole 20min video about the Wave coming out in 2 weeks. After that, you'll know EVERY detail like the back of your hand.

[@M3N31LL05]

I always thought those were islands, and the hats of fishermen were huts...

[@whizzywoo582]

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these presentations, thank you so much :)

[@mllebon1355]

Could the curator speak a bit more slowly? 🙏

[@Bongo1020]

I saw the Hokusai "Manga" in Tokyo. Truly remarkable studies of form, material, history.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

I've got an offset copy of Suikoden that was printed during the war and keeps all the old woodblock illustrations. I picked it up for a song and it's one of my prized possessions in my collection of Japanese art along with a Kuniyoshi "original" of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII (shortly before his suicide!) from 1853 that appears to be the only copy (or one third of it anyway) of this print that survives.

[@loisaddy8461]

Ooo this was great thankyou! I loved the Curator's Corner and to see the exhibition like this is amazing. I no longer live in London and am unable to visit, the videos you do make me feel I'm still part of the Museum's appreciation society!

[@Finn-McCool]

11:00 ...and of course this legendary 1831 print of the "Great Wave Off Kanagawa" was used in 1905 on the cover of the score for Debussy's piece titled: La Mer. (The Sea). Over time of course, different waves were used and the three fishing boats were removed. A sort of mid century Photoshop 😊.

[@mattsephton]

Love the enthusiasm of this curator. And the production of the video is top notch! Well done to the team.

[@Sloyom]

Easily one of the best museums I have ever been to. I wish I lived in London so that I could visit every day. There is just so much contained within those walls and each item is a breathtaking wonderment. Im so happy that I discovered this channel.

[@FriscoKittens]

My favorite British Museum video so far. Fascinating and well presented. Bravo.

[@injujuan8993]

So grateful for your marvellous videos, British Museum! Bedazzled, inspired, amazed and can’t stop watching ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍🤓🤓🤓

[@barbaracross7426]

Visited last week this vide was an excellent introduction to the exhibition and looking again was well worth while

[@lynnharper4422]

I wish Room 90 had been as empty as this when I saw the exhibition, lovely to have this tour after the event of my visit, hope to get there again before it ends, its well worth any views.

[@woj_tek]

loved this!!

[@wendyg8536]

Thank you for this superb presentation of Hokisai. Incredible work, and an inspiring treasure .

[@linkleisure]

is anyone else getting a Niles Crane energy ? love these videos

[@carolinehaythornthwaite2965]

Beautiful, thank you.

[@faburobin]

As I looked at the description of the book, I was suddenly reminded of Chris VanAllsburg's picture book "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick", which was also released as a set of prints, so the individual 'story starter' illustrations could be displayed to a group or classroom. A large-form set of 'flash-cards' of Hokusai's Picture Book of Everything drawings, with details printed on the back of each, would be amazing! You could arrange them into your own order, and see how you match up to the curators. Maybe 5" x 7" size.

[@MisterGrooves]

These are wonderful, thank you.

[@suecox2308]

Thank you so much--this was fascinating.

[@dianapatterson1559]

Thank you. This was very stimulating!

[@LaurieEarly]

I could watch Alfred describe art at the British Museum everyday! Thank you so much for this sequel.

[@axlathi]

What a great and informative video! Thank you!!!❤

[@marsan7917]

Fantastic presentation

[@helaquin1741]

Love your short tour, came to see the exhibition on Monday it was awe inspiring,

[@eyelidman09]

Simply magnificent! Many thanks.🙏☀️🇬🇧🙏

[@Mikkelltheimmortal]

This is excellent. Thank you for making this video. I really appreciate all the work you all at the museum have done to preserve and present these extremely rare images.

[@itsmecallyc]

Got my ticket booked for tomorrow, cant wait to see this beautiful art in person!

[@basketca2]

Yay! Thank you for the follow up! I could watch the Hokusai curators talk all day. Also, I love the content warnings in the video description 😉

[@EXIST818]

WONDERFUL WORK!! THANK YOU FOR GREAT CONTENT!! EDUCATIONAL, RELEVANT, HISTORY....!!!

[@freespirit995]

Thank you for this very interesting and informative video. It will make my visit to the BM and the Hokusai exhibition even more enjoyable!

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Wonderful. I could live at that museum. It's amazing.

[@john-paulflintoff8267]

That''s brilliant. Thank you.

[@jimmyzbike]

thanks for sharing

[@mannyespinola]

Thank you for this video

[@leematthews6812]

Saw this today, well worth a visit.

[@ramthian]

Thank you 😊

[@thaliasmusings]

Delightful!

[@dream_emulator]

Super interesting video! 🚀✨

[@ruthjames9278]

Looking forward to our visit to see this next weekend 23rd Oct

[@steveg8322]

Fascinating,to say the least.

[@dogue7338]

Beyond epic

[@frankpellow]

thanks for the video. i can't visit the exhibition so this is of great value.

[@valeriekamruddin4930]

Very interesting thankyou….

[@Tabtabtabtoycollection]

Thank youuuuuuu!!!!!

[@britishmuseum]

Welcoooooommmmeeee!!!

[@Shuu_denn_]

買い戻さなきゃぁ......

[@ShiftyXC]

Oh dear! I wanted to see this exhibition last year, but they weren’t exhibited at that time. All were in the archive as if they were going to be there forever, unfortunately and yet here we are.

[@eviljoel]

I was kinda dozing off and then the sentence "a conjoined husband and wife bird with shared wings" hit me out of nowhere.

[@loisaddy8461]

Ok now I want to know about the duck...

[@britishmuseum]

The duck is covered in Alfred's Curator's Corner episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWnZdqSoqLx6g6M

[@KlausBeckEwerhardy]

The book is here already ;)

[@delboykinobi5273]

You familiar with David Bull? A Canadian living with in Japan Tokyo who is a dedicated woodblock carver and has worked very hard to preserve the art form

[@flavio17021979]

Many thanks for that short video any chance for some more videos on similar subject?

[@britishmuseum]

In 2 weeks we should be releasing a video all about the many impressions of Hokusai’s Great Wave 🌊

[@ecurewitz]

I remember when the Great Wave came to the MFA in Boston, I was surprised by how small it was

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

"The" is probably not the right term. There were many many copies. I'm not sure if they got produced in various sizes but it wouldn't surprise me.

[@davidashmore3115]

A privilege. Thanks so much

[@rexmundi3108]

Casting in metal destroys wax sculptures. It's just the process

[@jorgecardoso5863]

I feel obliged to leave a shout-out to David Bull's channel, if you want to learn more about woodblock prints :)

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

I recently purchased the book, which is lovely and a great value at 20£. However, the shipping to the US was 34£ and priority was the only option. I'm happy to use slower shipping if it was an option - I'd be far more likely to purchase additional items from The British Museum. Perhaps you can open a US Store?

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I've been on this channel for days and my only question is, what does the British Museum NOT have?

[@stealthyniffler4014]

I would love to see the exhibition myself, but Corona keeps me from it. One more reason to order the book :)

[@britishmuseum]

Glad this could give you some experience of the exhibition and sorry to hear the rona is keeping you away

[@ecurewitz]

I have an ocean between myself and the museum

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

@@ecurewitz This.

[@golDroger88]

The story about the wife who's actually a fox reminds me of the myth of Melusine.

[@Khuros]

You need to get David Bull in there!

[@themcgeefamily7514]

💙💚

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

I'm a bit confused could you assist me, I thought Japan was called Edo, or was that Tokoyo somehow I've been confused about that.

[@AusSP]

In the past, the capital of Japan was traditionally Kyoto. In the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate (where the Tokugawa was the self-appointed head of the military, and the Emperor was a figurehead) Ieyasu Tokugawa established his headquarters at the Castle Town of Edo. So there was the "official" capital of Kyoto (literally "Capital City"), and the Shogunate's Edo, which was the place everyone wanted to be and became one of the largest cities in the world. In the mid-1800s, Japan had the Meiji Restoration, putting the Emperor back into power. The Emperor then moved his capital to Edo, renaming it Tokyo (Eastern Capital). The Japanese name for Japan is Nippon or Nihon (both are legitimate, for different contexts). Japan itself probably comes from Portugese attempts to spell the word, and a whole lot of messy inbetweens.

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

@@AusSP Oh thank you

[@iandalziel7405]

Be nice to see an actual woodblock 'mother' from the period...

[@chrisddonn]

Why are there adverts on a video featuring the Briitsh Museum? It's free of charge to get in so....?

[@thomasgraham742]

I had 0 adverts on my video

[@user-px7cm6ep2y]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍💘💘💘💖😇

[@thecowfy]

So when will we have a book of these drawings. It would be fine even without commentary. Not that there was anything wrong with the commentary. Just Hokusai does not need it.

[@lassunsschaun6859]

#WirSehnUnsImMuseum

[@N8570E]

With all respect, there is was too much of the talking head (Alfred Haft). I would have preferred only views of Hokusai's works. In 'Victory at Sea', you never saw the narrator. Thank you for your efforts. May you and yours stay well and prosper.

[@cafehfg]

I think is book he call them manga right bk actually the name manga is from 1814 or something help pls XD actually it caricature right

[@russianweeb]

f̷̩̜͚̤͇͔̿̋̓̐͜͝͝e̷̞͍̲̜̔̃́͝e̷̠̭͎̽̂̾̕d̷̛͈͓͉̮̦͔̼͈̳͔͙͊͌̌̊̔̏̊͂̔̚̚t̸̢̛̤̰̯͕͊̀̈́̈͛́̈̒̓͝͝h̴͖̠̱̝̣̼̩͕̥̭̜͊̍͗̋͛̾͋̌̍̒̓̍͝ę̴̛̯̮̰͖̝͎̼͎͙̼̻̻̺̈́͒̈́͐͂̔͒͘͠â̵̬̰͍̾̉ĺ̸̞͌̐͐̉̑̐̓͒̎̊̈͘͝g̸̛̩̥͌͋̌̊̑̌̈̓͝õ̴̡̯̥͔͓̙̪͓̫͓̞̞̣̜͓̅̀̑̉̒̋̇̄̐̋͝r̸̨̤̤̔̆̍͌̾̈́͆́̚͜į̶̨͓̗͚͚̳͉͕͚̝̪̳͍̲͌̈̊͗͛̎͌̌͒̏̒͋͘͝t̶̨̘͕̂̽̀̉͐̈́̎͌̌̿́̆̿h̴̡̥̺̤̳̘̳̜͈̝̤̱̾̐̽m̷͉͊̾̊̽̅́͋͋̍̂̋́̚̕͘

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

vishvakarma is the architect of brahma and the other demigods vishwa = universe karma = to do please Publish this book -

[@kieaki7371]

British Museum: where everything of global fame is nothing of British Origin. But there has to be a remnant of British era esque occupancy somewhere eh?

[@kenmcnearny2727]

Background music too loud and distracting. Who uses background music in a lecture not about music? And WHY? Is there Muzak(TM) blaring throughout the British Museum? I'm sorry that I was unable to watch the video as I'm quite a fan of Japanese art.

[@satoau1]

pronunciation: hock-sai. you don't pronounce the "u" in most japanese names, including this one.

[@hana_yori_dango]

Thank you.

[@vitamins4195]

I think it’s ok to pronounce the “u” here. You’re right that some people don’t pronounce it, maybe only a subtle “u,” but it depends on the individual, doesn’t it?

[@satoau1]

@@vitamins4195 no. source: everyone around me here in japan. it's a bit like pronouncing 'restaurant' as 'rest-ow-rant'.

[@richardgruetter1014]

An interesting exhibition. A bothersome narration.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

1:21 Surely this is a fantasy? Pretty sure women did not do such work.

[@couttsw]

Why can't the British understand that the Japanese don't pronounce the vowel U in the middle of the name or indeed often placed at the end of words. Go listen to a Japanese person talk about the great man and then listen to those who ain't got a clue. It's HokSai not Hok U Sai

[@AlexanderLittlebears]

It’s not relevant

[@marcionphilologos5367]

Realism, accentuated by lines, was the dominating style within Japanese and Asian art in general. WESTERN REALISM, REALISTIC EXPRESSIONISM AND CERTAINLY MODERN ART OF THE 19/20TH CENTURY ARE VASTLY SUPERIOR........... The exhibition of HOKUSAI drawings shows again that the Britisch Museum has an outdated bourgeois taste, and does not understand the essence of art.....

[@nct948]

according to your views, is there only one way of expression?

[@marcionphilologos5367]

@@nct948 ALL ART IS ABOUT EXPRESSION OF THE ONE WAY..... THE DIVINE LOGOS.

[@nct948]

@@marcionphilologos5367 Gosh, you are just another one who thinks he has the One and Only Truth and everyone else is just to be despised or pitied. How obtuse.

[@marcionphilologos5367]

@@nct948 Yes, my truth is based on the PHILOSOPHIES of PARMINEDES, SOCRATES, EUCLIDES, PLATO, ARISTOTELES, ZENO, CICERO, SENECA, PHILO, MARCUS, MARCION, BASILIDES, JUSTIN, ORIGEN, CLEMENS, TERTULLIANUS, PLOTINUS, EUSEBIUS, VICTORINUS, PROCLUS, BOETHIUS, EUGENIUS, ANSELMUS, THOMAS, SIGER, PLETHON, MOORE, ERASMUS, LUTHER, CALVIJN, BACON, WOLFF, HERDER, LEIBNIZ, SPINOZA, SCHELLING, ROUSSEAU, ROBESPIERRE, HEGEL, SPENCER, MONDRIAN, SPENGLER, FREUD, HEIDEGGER, SARTRE, ADORNO, FROMM, MARCUSE, LYOTARD ETC. If you have not read and understood these philosophers, than I do not discuss with you....

[@nct948]

@@marcionphilologos5367 yes please, don't!

[@nickross4307]

sadly the narrator is just too boring.... its almost continual monotone - he has no passion..

[@ow2750]

its 2021... u can get help. and ure too fast speaking. ... not amusing

[@nct948]

It is 2021. Are you now unable to write English correctly?

[@ow2750]

cant u repair ur teeth? and get a different haircut and a beard?