Drawing 6,  19.3 X 27.4 cm.

Manga.  Seven men, Samurais and nobles, by Hokusai.

These drawings were published in Chûkô itako bushi, vol. 1, 3 and 5, in 1809.

They are not all drawn in the same direction, nor are they all drawn with the same quality: the four on the left,  ( 6 A, 6 B ) are finished and carefully drawn, with artist’s shorthand. The other three ( 6C and 6D), turned in the other direction, to fit the available space, are less well worked, show no instructions and are clearly rough sketches. They all seem to have the same technical procedure: carefully drawn, they have been faithfully copied onto the print, where, it would seem, that no effort in their positioning has been taken: once the figures were “dropped onto the print”, a fitting background was added.

6 A.  Two Samurais, one blocking the other’s attack.

Published in Chûkô itako bushi, vol. 1, p. 4A, en 1809 .

 Changes from drawing to print:

• The indication of the pattern on the standing man’s lapel has not been used in the print.
• The positioning within the page: the text, frame, moon and clouds have been added, an elegant way of setting the scene, dramatising it, whilst retaining the balance and dignity of the drawing.
   

Artist's shorthand:

• The hair of the man in the foreground has been left white, in order to keep it clearly legible. The other man’s hair, of which there is much less and therefore will tend to remain legible, has been drawn in black.
• The numerous indications of the patterns for the clothes are characteristic of Hokusai’s method. The standing man’s jacket has no indication that it will be black.

6 B.  Two men. One nonchalantly blocks the other from drawing his sword.

Published in Chûkô itako bushi, vol. 5, pp. 11B – 12A, in 1809.

6 C.  Two men.

Published in Chûkô itako bushi, vol.  5, pp. 20B – 21A, in 1809.

 Changes from drawing to print:

• The composition.
• The letter (?) in the kneeling man’s hand has been slightly foreshortened at the top.
   

Artist's shorthand:

• Clothes and hair.
   

 6 D.  Samurai, sitting and pointing.
Published in Chûkô itako bushi, vol. 3, plate 19-20, in 1809.
Hokusai shows certain weaknesses in this sketch which we are not accustomed to: the eyes and the left forearm have been retouched. The folds in the clothes do not appear to be falling naturally and lack strength. We can probably attribute these faults to the fact that it is a preliminary sketch based on posture and movement, hastily drawn on the last remaining space on the sheet.