Have you stopped by the Phillips Collection yet? If you walked away wondering where Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec found some of their inspiration, meet Katsushika Hokusai, the Japanese artist whose novel integration of Eastern technical skill with Western style went on to influence these European giants, along with Van Gogh, Monet, and countless others. Hokusai’s innovative paintings and drawings dared to move beyond the popular Japanese styles of his time that focused on wealthy, urban lifestyles in bold lines and color, instead opting to capture nature, spirituality and the working class. An unprecedented collection of his works are on display now at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

The exhibit is separated into two main sections. The first follows Hokusai’s progression though each stage of his life. A chronological assessment makes sense for a man who was oft quoted as saying that only time would make him a great painter. The prolific artist began his career by learning traditional Japanese techniques, such as woodblock printing, in art school. He soon parted ways with formal institutions as he discovered Western, and in particular, Dutch landscapes with mixed, rich color schemes.