The Old Man Mad about Drawing: A Tale of Hokusai

by François Place

An illustrated tribute to the master, Hokusai.

Genres: Art, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Asia, Japan, Biography Memoir

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 1997

About the author

After a ferry literary, he makes visual communication studies at the Ecole Estienne. (1974-1977.) He worked for several years as a freelance illustrator for studios of graphics and advertising and professional journals. His first children's book illustrations appear in the Rose Library at Hachette. In 1985, he met Pierre Marchand, publisher Gallimard Jeunesse, who notices his d'adolescent drawings. It shows a series of documentary books on the theme of travel and discover the world, and made ​​his first steps in writing. It helps other nonfiction books, and begins to illustrate novels, notably those of Michael Morpurgo.

In 1992, appears to Casterman Editions The last giants, then, between 1996 and 2000, the three volumes of the Atlas of d'Orbæ geographers, an imaginary atlas built on the principle of the alphabet. This atlas was extended in 2010 by The d'Orbæ secret. He received from the Grand Prix of the Fair of Bologna for the Atlas geographers of Orbae and a Witches Prix Special to reward his work award from youth specialist bookshops and Library Association of France.

In 2008, François contributes to Place du Louvre youth website, alongside the authors Benedict and Emmanuelle de Saint Chamas.

In 2010 his first novel Youth Flying Customs (Gallimard Jeunesse) is distinguished by the magazine read. In 2012, The Secret d'Orbæ receives the prize fiction International Fair Youth Book of Bologna (Italy).

The originals of François Place were regularly exposed, especially with the youth of Montreuil Book Promotion Centre and the Art Gallery page.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un super texte pour découvrir brièvement Hokusai, ça donne envie d'en savoir beaucoup plus, je comprends pourquoi ce court roman est devenu un classique !

[Monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francois Place is one of my favorite children's illustrators. This book is a wonderful introduction to the artwork of the Japanese master, Hokusai. He is considered by many sources to be the grandfather of Japanese Manga, and some of his artwork is iconic (such as the Wave, Samurai warriors battling terrible monsters, etc. The artwork is woven into a nice children's tale about a young orphan boy , Tojiro, who sells rice cakes for his uncle on the streets of Edo (?). It is arduous and thankless work, earning a meager existence. On his travels, he meets the great artist, who pays him for one of his rice cakes with a drawing. Tojiro loves the drawing, but his uncle is unimpressed, and punishes him for not getting money. Hokusai offers to educate Tojiro, and teach him drawing and the crafts involved with making block prints. These crafts are also beautifully illustrated by Francois Place's watercolor designs. This book works on a number of levels, and is a great introduction to Japanese art and culture, from the early 19th century. It might also offer encouragement to a future artist. I first read this book in 2006.
Place has also illustrated "behind the story" annotated and illustrated version of Treasure Island, and many more.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great biography and beautifully illustrated! A great addition to our study of Japan.

[Becky Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, without a doubt, my favorite biography of an artist for children. I loved the words, the illustrations, the layout.

When we finished the book, my 8yo old daughter hugged the book and exclaimed, "I want to paint like Hokusai!"

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book to behold. The story is delightful and the illustrations are gorgeous and appropriate. My sons both loved this book, and it's a great primer on 19th C Japan, art and manga.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the history of this book, he is very nice guys

[Davidjareno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incroyablement sublime. Surtout pour ceux qui aiment la gravure et le dessin.

[Lidik · Rating 3 out of 5]

To speak of literary value, this book is average. BUT, this is exactly the type of things that you should be reading at 8-10 years old. There is a beauty in the flow of the story and it does inspire you to imagine and be curious. For children, this book is good. For anyone else, this is what you read when you are bored out of your mind.

[Clodjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Le vieux fou du dessin” est un magnifique album illustré pour enfant qui offre, à sa manière, une biographie de ce grand maitre de l'estampe que l'on appelait aussi le “vieux fou de dessin” (ou de la peinture).

Au travers des yeux d'un petit vendeur de gateaux de riz devenu apprenti du peintre, et de la relation que ceux-ci développent peu à peu, le lecteur découvre non seulement la vie et l'oeuvre d'Hokusai, mais aussi de très nombreux aspects de la culture Japonaise. C'est un voyage initiatique et formateur tant pour le jeune Tojiro que pour le lecteur.

C'est une lecture agréable et très enrichissante, agrémentée de superbes illustrations (on trouve aussi tout au long du texte des reproduction d'oeuvres d'Hokusai). Toutefois la narration manque un peu de fluidité. Malgré ce petit irritant, c'est un très bon livre, une oeuvre charmante, que je recommande chaudement.

Voir mon commentaire complet sur : http://clodjee.blogspot.ca/2013/06/le...

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a collector of books. Not really. But after seeing (and buying) Francois Place's book The Last Giants this summer, I knew that I would also want to own this book by him. It arrived from Amazon in the mail today and it is thrilling. It tells the story of an orphaned boy who lives with his uncle and aunt and sells rice cakes in the streets of Edo to earn his keep. He meets a "crazy old man," who turns out to be the 90-year-old artist Hokusai. The boy becomes Hokusai's apprentice. There are beautiful drawings of street life in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), a Kabuki performance, a Sumo wrestling match, and night-time boating on the Sumida River.

[Holly Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully packaged and full of process detail. An engaging historical fiction biography of the incredible artist Katsushika Hokusai. Perfect to combine with a visit to the 2015 Hokusai exhibit at the Boston MFA! Hooray for publisher David R. Godine for bringing this book to English-language readers.

[Raj Bowers-Racine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A work of biographical fiction about Hokusai, the 18th/19th century printmaker. Best known for The Great Wave at Kanagawa, this book centers on his later years living Shogun-era Edo. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy who becomes Hokusai's apprentice. This perspective works well to humanize the cranky old man with all his genius and all of his flaws. Each short chapter focuses on one tale of Hokusai's life and is illustrated with a combination of Hokusai's historical works and with original art by the author Francois Place. Hokusai's art has rightfully been revered for centuries and Place's addition do a wonderful job of synthesizing his own French comic style with some of the motifs of Japanese printmaking.

[Lenny Husen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book for anyone at any age. The illustrations are unbeleviably amazing and detailed. The book is about Hokusai, an artist who lived in Japan in the 19th Century.
This is a fictional tale of the artist and his relationship with a very special young protegé. Therefore it combines history, art, and the theme of the old giving to the young in ways that could last for...eternity. The book even contains an illustrated lesson in wood block engraving/printing, something I knew nothing about.

Who should read this or look at it multiple times: Any artist or primary teacher or any lover of the following things: children, children's books, illustrations, Japan.

[Amanda Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed this. Hokusai we had read a little bit about before and looked through some of his work. This book is particularly engaging because of illustrations and explanations of the process of print making. Features many works by Hokusai, but the story itself has sweet illustrations. Short chapters we read it in 3 sittings, with 8 and 5 year old. This is a fictional story that tells many of the biographical details about Hokusai throughout.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like E.L. Konigsburg's "The Second Mrs. Giaconda", the premise is that of a naive young apprentice learning from a master. Technical information is woven into a narrative aimed at late-elementary readers, with rich illustrations of Edo-period Japan.

[Krystal 🦢 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My elementary aged kids are studying Japan, so I assigned them to read this. It’s a cute, short story about an old man who loves to draw and the little apprentice that he takes on and teaches. It’s a great book for a Japanese study. It’s a great book for art study. You can’t go wrong.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful book, art by the author and prints by Hokusai, told from a very clever and engaging perspective. For all ages. Highly recommend.

[Hailey Liechty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story woven together gracefully with fascinating illustrations and peppered with reproductions of Hokusai’s drawings. It was a pleasure to read, study and learn from this book!

[Elijah]

I picked this up from a little free library in my neighborhood. What a find!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud as part of our study of Japan.

[Ingrid Moysset]

Cute

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the gorgeous artwork. The story wasn't particularly riveting for the kids, but it was a nice "capstone" read for our study of Japan and the kids are now obsessed with Hokusai's art.

[Regine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful take on the extraordinary Hokusai.

[Alice Guérin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très facile à lire. Et très agréable.

[Damien Antunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livre très intéressant pour les enfants qui veulent découvrir comment était fait les dessins a l'époque pour les asiatiques lors des premières impressions

[Ambre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanteur.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son in particular enjoyed this book from the library! He really became interested in the artist, Hokusai, and asked if we could buy him this book for his birthday. So great!

[Roro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon livre jeunesse, court et efficace, avec une histoire intéressante qui nous plonge dans le Japon ancien.

[Luca Venturini--Chapus · Rating 2 out of 5]

sumimasen pour la note mais c’est juste une grande page Wikipedia avec des illustrations.

[Servane Desbois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relu avant le Japon
Et au Japon j’ai vu des sumo, des Geisha, le mont Fuji, le temple renard et on a parlé Kabuki et Edo !