The Lost Hokusai

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Description

The ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai is extremely popular worldwide. At 86, he created a monumental, 3-meter-wide composition using bold brushstrokes to depict the ancient Japanese deity Susanoo slaying several gods of pestilence. The work was destroyed by fire during the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the only clue to its original form was a single monochrome photograph. In 2016, experts relied on that photo as a guide as they launched a project to recreate this enormous work in its original dimensions. They used cutting edge technology, but faced many challenges, such as determining the work’s original colors. This program follows them as they complete the recreation and unveil the true intentions behind this “Lost Hokusai.”