Henri-Alexis Baatsch is a writer and translator who lived in Tokyo in 1981 and again from 1984 to 1986, during which time he wrote the essay that became Hokusai: A Life in Drawing. He is the author of several plays and numerous books, including Henri Michaux: Painter and Poetry and Questions of Style.
The genre of Japanese prints called ukiyo-e, meaning ""images of the floating world,"" first arose in the 17th century... A slicing sheet of rain, lazily snaking smoke, ragged-edged sea foam, a bird's wing midflap: each is forever preserved and, here, accompanied by essays on the artist's life, times and techniques.-- ""The Wall Street Journal"" The monumental scale and luxury of the book and Baatsch's lively text makes me feel like I'm right there with Utagawa Hiroshige, discovering those iconic landscapes. Hiroshige's influence on Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh is undeniable.-- ""Vogue""