HOKUSAI, Katsushika. Hokusai manga. Volume 4. - Lot 164

HOKUSAI, Katsushika. Hokusai manga. Volume 4. Published in Edo (Tokyo) by Eirakuya Tōshirō in 1816. In-8, fukurotoji binding, title-piece pastedown to front board. 1 introductory leaf, 56 prints on 28 accordion leaves. Boards detached; leaves remain bound. Binding faded, title label partially detached. Light foxing and spotting inside. Blacks lightened. Rare first edition of this fourth volume of Hokusai's Sketchbooks. Published from 1814 in 15 notebooks, the "Hokusai manga" bring together numerous prints by the famous Japanese painter. These compilations were intended to serve as models for Japanese artists and craftsmen, and are more of an iconographic repertoire than a manga in the current sense of the term. The prints, printed in black, gray and pink, depict various elements of daily life and Japanese mythology. After a double introductory leaflet, this fourth volume opens with nine scenes and mythological subjects, followed by studies of animals and plants, landscapes, costumes and genre scenes, depicting a vast panorama of Japanese life in the early 19th century. A faded copy that remains absolutely charming.