Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 2: Moonlight on the Yodo River

by Katsushika Hokusai

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

In 'Moonlight on the Yodo River,' Katsushika Hokusai printed a busy river scene in Osaka, Japan. Men labor in boats on the river, which flows past Osaka Castle and turns a water wheel. The moon shines down from the sky. On the far side of the river, mountains spread across the horizon. Triangular rooftops of homes peek from the treetops. People stroll along a river path. Like 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa,' this work is a woodblock print. Rather than being painted directly upon paper with a brush, the image is carved in relief from wood, similar to a rubber stamp. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.

Vocabulary

Osaka: The second-largest city in Japan.
Castle: A large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.
Water Wheel: A large wheel driven by flowing water, used to work machinery or to raise water to a higher level.

Concepts

1. Katsushika Hokusai was born in 1760 in Edo, Japan (present-day Tokyo). See his self-portrait below.

2. Zoom in and find Hokusai's country of birth on the map of Asia below.

3. Hokusai started painting at age six, perhaps because his father was an artisan who made mirrors. At age 14, he apprenticed with a wood-carver. At age 18, he worked in an art studio where he learned ukiyo-e, but suffered much embarrassment under his master.
4. Hokusai changed his name multiple times over his lifetime. Names included Shunrō, Tawaraya Sōri, Taito, and litsu.
5. Hokusai is best-known for his woodblock print series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,' which includes his most famous work, 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa.'
6. Hokusai died in 1849 at the age of 88.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Moon
• Mountains
• Boats
• Poles
• River Path
• Strolling People
• House Roofs
• Castle
• Water Wheel
• Japanese Writing

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point out any you see in the print.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Draw a Japanese Symbol

• The print includes Japanese writing on the upper left-hand corner.
• Japanese writing does not use the 'ABCs' used in the English language. The Japanese language has both characters that make up words and symbols that represent entire words.
• See below the Japanese symbol for 'love.' Sketch or color the symbol and label it, 'LOVE.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 7 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The setting is the Osaka Castle on the Yodo River in Osaka, Japan.

1 / 4

Question 2

Who are the characters in the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The characters are the men in the boats.

2 / 4

Question 3

What does the river turn in this print?

3 / 4

Answer 3

The river turns the water wheel.

3 / 4

Question 4

How was this print and other woodblock prints created?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The image is carved in relief out of wood. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is the Osaka Castle on the Yodo River in Osaka, Japan.
2. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are the men in the boats.
3. What does the river turn in this print? The river turns the water wheel.
4. How was this print and other woodblock prints created? The image is carved in relief out of wood. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.

References

'Hokusai.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Osaka Castle.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.