Images by the renowned Japanese artist, Katsushika Hokusai, left guests at the Chester Beatty Library gasping in awe at his genius. His works, dating from the 18th century, went on view in the library this week.
"He was quite an eccentric. We don't know much about his private life. There are very few records left of him," said Dr Clare Pollard, curator of the exhibition.
"He lived entirely for his art. He was an avid absorber of different styles. He married twice and he did have children but they seem to have been a source of tribulation to him.
"He was an absolute genius of composition. He cropped objects very boldly and his sense of scale, his unusual view from above or below or from the side - all these elements really appealed to western artists," said Pollard.
Dr Tom Hardiman, chairman of the Chester Beatty Library, said Hokusai had created some of his most famous works in his later years.
The artist, who was born in 1760 and was a child prodigy, produced his 36 views of Mount Fugi, after his 70th birthday. This was "a wonderful achievement in his advancing years", said Hardiman.
Artist Ciarán Lennon, who will be doing a show in the Chester Beatty in October, marvelled at Hokusai's work, which has been widely replicated and has "become standard clichés in illustration now", he said.
Grania Langrishe from Dunsany, Co Meath and Japanese poet Eriko Madden along with her friend, Kaori Endo, were equally impressed by the works of Hokusai, who was a woodblock print designer, and became one of Japan's most celebrated artists. This exhibition features 75 of his finest prints.
The exhibition, which was opened by the Japanese ambassador, Takeshi Kagami, will run until Tuesday, September 30th.