Katsushika Hokusai

More stimulating paintings...I really like these. Katsushika Hokusai was a 19th century Japanese artist who used the wood block technique of ukiyo-e, which translates as "pictures of the floating world".

In the beginning there was the wave. The towering blue-and-white tsunami in the foreground of the most august of mountains in Japan, 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' was one of Katsushika Hokusai’s series of “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.”

Hokusai later produced "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji". Also from the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, though, I selected the following.

Lake Suwa Shinano Province:

Fine Wind, Clear Morning:

There are many more for you explorers to find. Let me know your favourites and, since I don't think you can insert images in comments, I'll post them for you.

Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād

Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād was a 15th/16th century Persian painter, living and working in the tiny city of Herat. A Great Artist in the Civilization VI computer game, we learn:

Behzad lived his life primarily in the city of Herat, in what is today Afghanistan. His miniatures were exceptional in the way that human figures and architecture were arranged on the page, creating a sense of flow that draws viewers’ eyes around the page. These miniatures were testaments to the cosmopolitanism of the time – they drew inspiration from Chinese art, portrayed individuals of all of the different peoples that lived their lives in the globally-connected empire, and focused as much on everyday moments of humanity as well as those of conquering kings. While Persian art did not forbid showing human figures (as much Muslim art did), Behzad also excelled in incorporating Persian love for architecture and geometry, creating dizzying patterns with tiles, roof gables, staircases, etc (as in the miniature Yusef and Zuleykha).

Behzad remains thought of as one of the most notable Muslim artists of the medieval period.

I thought I'd share some images of works attributed to Behzad. Let me know if, like me, you like them.

The construction of castle Khavarnaq

Battleground of Timur and the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt.

Timur granting audience on the occasion of his accession

Jang Seung-eop

How do like these (to my mind) beautiful paintings?

Jang Seung-eop was a 19th century Korean painter. There's a film about him: Chi-hwa-seon, which won numerous awards and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Tell me if you like the images.

Three Sisters Playing Chess

The Game of Chess (Portrait of the artist's sisters playing chess) is a painting by Sofonisba Anguissola from 1555. Anguissola was 23 years old when she painted it.

It looks like a bit of a mismatch. I think the confident-looking elder sister (Lucia) is about to declare 'Check', maybe even 'Checkmate'. And the youngest (Europe) looks a bit of a mischief - she might tip the board over if her favourite sister (the stern-looking Minerva) is about to lose. Minerva's King looks a bit exposed and it's possible Lucia has captured the Black Queen and has it in her hand.

It looks like Minerva has her hand raised - is that a concession of defeat?

The painting is in the National Museum in Poznan, Poland. I hope nobody makes it into a jigsaw puzzle.

Cursing Van Gogh

 Van Gogh's Starry Night is my current jigsaw puzzle.

It's apparently the view from his room in an asylum. It's dark [duh Nigel; it's night time!]. Lots of, presumably, stars. A moon which looks remarkably like the sun. Which after all is just a star, albeit a big one. To us on earth. A huge black obelisk which turns out to be a cypress tree. Partly blocking the view.

According to an (unattributed) article in vangoghgallery.com, "Blue dominates the painting, blending hills into the sky. The little village lays at the base in the painting in browns, greys, and blues." On close inspection, all the jigsaw pieces have subtle markings.

I cannot see into Vincent's mind when he paints this but I can see it from a jigsaw puzzler's perspective. It's a nightmare. Here's a blue piece; it could go anywhere in 60% of the picture. Likewise a yellow: 30%. The rest black/dark brown with no redeeming features.

How I am yearning for some bold colour contrasts; a yellow door, a green tiled roof, some black and white cows. Dear Vincent, jigsawers don't appreciate subtle! Or blending. Or browns, greys, and blues.

Oh dear, I remind myself of Kristina of Sweden's disapproval quote in Civilization 6: "I suppose you think art is great when it ties a room together, you philistine." Have I become that person?

This puzzle is going to take me until Christmas to complete. Not necessarily Christmas 2020. I shall persevere, mostly because I feel sorry for Vincent.