Hokusai at Palazzo Bonaparte: exploring Japanese art

Until 29 June 2026, Palazzo Bonaparte hosts a comprehensive exhibition on Katsushika Hokusai, displaying more than 200 works from the National Museum in Krakow. The show traces the artist’s production, from iconic woodblock prints to illustrated books and period objects.

The exhibition is organised into thematic sections that highlight Hokusai's role in Japanese art and his influence on Western painting. Visitors can learn about the ukiyo-e technique, the artist’s fascination with nature and movement, and his legacy in both fine art and popular culture.

Highlights

• The Great Wave off Kanagawa, the emblematic centerpiece of the exhibition.
• The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji and other series of prints capturing landscape and everyday life in 19th-century Japan.
• Over 180 rare books and period objects: lacquerware, cloisonné enamel, armours, helmets, swords, kimonos and traditional musical instruments.
• Immersive sections and educational displays illustrating printmaking techniques and the workshop practice of Hokusai and his pupils.
• A photographic perspective on 19th-century Japan through the works of travel photographer Felice Beato.

Why visit

The exhibition gives a full picture of an artist who shaped the modern visual idea of Japan worldwide. Beyond individual masterpieces, the display contextualises Hokusai’s experiments and traces the dialogue between Eastern tradition and Western reception.

Credits

Curated by Beata Romanowicz with scholarly and editorial consultancy, the exhibition is produced by Arthemisia in collaboration with the National Museum in Krakow, with the support of cultural partners and institutions.