The Big Wave

Katsushika Hokusai, a pivotal Japanese artist and printmaker from the Edo period, is celebrated for his transformative impact on the ukiyo-e art form. Born in 1760 in Edo (present-day Tokyo), Hokusai embarked on his artistic path at an early age, constantly evolving his style and adopting new names over the course of his lifetime. His boundless inventiveness and singular perspective have left an enduring mark on Japanese art.

Throughout a career spanning more than seventy years, Katsushika Hokusai created an impressive body of work, producing some 30,000 drawings, paintings, and prints. It was during his seventies that he unveiled his renowned landscape woodblock print series, the 36 Views of Mount Fuji, among which is the famous The Great Wave off Kanagawa. His art resonated internationally, influencing prominent Western artists such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh.

The 36 Views of Mount Fuji series is acclaimed for its expert application of perspective, vivid coloration, and energetic compositions. Hokusai’s skill in portraying Mount Fuji from varied vantage points and under differing atmospheric conditions established new benchmarks in Japanese landscape art. The Great Wave off Kanagawa, arguably his best-known piece, has come to represent both Japanese heritage and the wider world of art.

Hokusai’s legacy reached well past his own era and nation, playing a crucial role in shaping Impressionism and other Western artistic movements. Audiences around the globe were captivated by his pioneering techniques and daring designs. His creations persist in enchanting and inspiring both contemporary artists and admirers of art to this day.