Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as a titan in the world of art, his iconic woodblock print, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," instantly recognizable across cultures and time.1 His career, spanning over eight decades, yielded thousands of paintings, prints, and book illustrations, showcasing his mastery of ukiyo-e and an insatiable artistic curiosity.1 Yet, a fascinating question arises when examining his work: how did European art influence Hokusai, an artist who lived during a period when Japan was largely closed off from the Western world?