Made in Japan
You may not know the name of the artist behind it, but chances are you’ve seen the image above—or at least a parody of it. One of the most famous artists in Japanese history, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a master of painting and woodblock prints whose career spanned seven decades. Witness for yourself why the man’s work became so influential at the Hokusai exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. Renowned for its large holdings of Japanese art, the MFA boasts the best selection of Hokusai’s works in the world, so expect not only familiar prints like the one pictured, but also delicate and unique items that are rarely on display. One highlight is a luminous eight-panel folding screen of a colorful phoenix stretched across a gold-leaf background that ably demonstrates the superior sense of design and invention that made Hokusai one of the all-time greats.