Random Sketches by Hokusai, Volume 12

Katsushika Hokusai

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hokusai's picture book, published in fifteen volumes, included popular drawings of figures from everyday life, mythology, religion, and legend, as well as depictions of flora, fauna and landscape. It was probably created to provide models for artists. This image, "Man Making Faces," is included among a volume of humorous sketches and caricatures. The print features close-up reflections of a man creating two different distorted expressions. However, Hokusai plays with the reality of the mirror image by eliminating the real subject—the man—and representing only his reflection. Since the subject has entered our space, the artist engages us on a different level. Could we be the subject?

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art