Head of an Old Man by Katsushika Hokusai

This strikingly expressive print is a dynamic portrait that illustrates the master’s deep interest in the study of human faces and emotions. The artwork titled “Head of an Old Man” is signed by the illustrious artist Hokusai Katsushika, who captures here the essence of joy of life and popular laughter. This energetic portrait bears witness to the stylistic freedom and graphic spontaneity that characterize his numerous sketchbooks and studies.

The portrait shows a close-up of the face of a laughing old man, caught in a moment of frank and spontaneous laughter. His partly bald head is surrounded by locks of white hair and a shaggy beard drawn with a lively and dynamic line. His large, crinkled eyes, turned upward, shine with joyful malice under bushy eyebrows. His wide-open mouth reveals a few teeth and an expression of unconstrained happiness. The man is dressed in a garment with gray and black geometric patterns draped over his shoulders. The neutral light beige background is decorated with discreet discs reminiscent of traditional seals or fan motifs, focusing all attention on the subject.

The master shows here his supremacy in the art of caricature and capturing the moment. His brushstroke, both fast, precise, and of great expressive force, reveals an exceptional know-how that prefigures modern drawing and perfectly illustrates his philosophy of a living and deeply human art.