God of Thunder and His Drum by Katsushika Hokusai

God of Thunder and His Drum 18th-19th century

drawing, ink-on-paper

drawing

toned paper

light pencil work

quirky sketch

japan

ink-on-paper

personal sketchbook

ink drawing experimentation

sketch

sketchbook drawing

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

sketchbook art

watercolor

This sketch by Katsushika Hokusai, a renowned Japanese ukiyo-e artist, depicts a scene of the thunder god Raijin pulling a drum through the clouds with a rope. The image is a study for a larger work, showcasing Hokusai's dynamic and expressive line work. The composition is simple yet dramatic, emphasizing the god's powerful energy as he pulls the drum through the sky. The sketch provides a glimpse into the artist's creative process, revealing his unique approach to capturing movement and capturing the mythical elements of Japanese folklore.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Many Japanese painters of other schools were inspired by the playful images of O_tsu-e artists. Hokusai based this sketch on the O_tsu-e theme of the god of thunder frantically fishing for his thunder-making drum which he has accidentally dropped into the sea.