Primary sourcePaintingc. 1840s

Self-Portrait at Age Eighty-Three

Hokusai · c. 1840s

A rare ink self-portrait by Hokusai drawn in old age, showing himself smiling with one arm raised.

This is a rare self-portrait drawn by Hokusai himself in his old age.

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Ink drawing on paper of an old, bald man with white wispy hair and a wide smile, one arm raised pointing upward, wearing a loose patterned robe, seated with knees drawn up. Japanese calligraphy columns and a red seal appear on the sides. — Hokusai, Self-Portrait at Age Eighty-Three (crop), c. 1840s.

About this source

What it is

This ink drawing is a self-portrait made by Hokusai around the 1840s, when he was in old age. It shows a bald man with white wispy hair, smiling, with one arm raised and pointing upward, seated with his knees drawn up. Japanese calligraphy and a red seal appear beside the figure.

Why it matters

Self-portraits by Japanese artists of this period are rare, making this an unusually direct record of how Hokusai saw himself near the end of his long career. It offers a personal glimpse of the artist behind the famous prints, showing him in a relaxed and expressive pose rather than a formal one.

Look closer

What does Hokusai's expression and pose suggest about how he wanted to be remembered?
Why might an artist choose to draw himself in old age rather than earlier in life?
What questions does this image leave unanswered about Hokusai's thoughts or feelings at this stage of his life?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hokusai on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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