Seven Gods of Good Fortune by Katsushika Hokusai

The refinement of mythological representations and the commemoration of divine figures from popular culture inspire this work of great narrative liveliness. In this group composition entitled “Seven Gods of Good Fortune”, the illustrious Hokusai Katsushika immortalizes the gods of fortune with remarkable joviality and expressiveness. The painting ranks among the allegorical genre scenes that document the joyful devotion and traditional beliefs of Edo Japan through a drawing of great linear fluidity.

Seven traditional deities with joyful and animated expressions are gathered facing forward in the foreground, happily celebrating a ritual festival. Among them, an old man with an extremely elongated skull and a white beard holds a long dark wooden walking stick. Another vigorous character in a garment decorated with complex geometric patterns brandishes a golden bell, while a celestial goddess adorned with jewels handles a misty ribbon floating around her head. In the center, a small wooden tray supports a still life composed of a bright red tai fish placed as an offering. The clothing displays a great richness of patterns alternating red, blue, and ochre, illuminated by a uniform light on a plain light background.

The craftsman’s dexterity is asserted in a spectacular manner in the expressive rendering of the faces and the elegance of the outlined contour lines. His absolute mastery of woodblock printing allows him to achieve a caricaturish realism and a narrative depth of rare plastic intensity. This technical virtuosity confirms the supremacy of his execution.