Under the Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai

Under the Wave off Kanagawa 1830 - 1833

print, ink, color-on-paper

quirky illustration

blue ink drawing

fine art illustration

childish illustration

egg art

print

japan

ink

fluid art

color-on-paper

tattoo art

watercolour illustration

cartoon carciture

watercolor

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, created between 1830 and 1833. This iconic piece, part of Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, depicts a colossal wave, seemingly about to crash down on three small fishing boats. Mount Fuji is visible in the background, adding a sense of scale and grandeur to the composition. The wave's dynamic form, rendered in vibrant shades of blue, white, and gray, creates a sense of both power and beauty. Hokusai's use of woodblock printing, with its characteristic fine lines and detailed textures, captures the essence of the turbulent sea. This masterpiece of Japanese art, now a symbol of the nation, continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Under the Wave off Kanagawa is among the strongest images in Hokusai’s famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, and it has become an artistic icon, known around the world. Hokusai’s greatest rival, Utagawa Hiroshige, who specialized in views of famous places (meisho-e), criticized Hokusai’s unconventional compositions as too artificial. Certainly this image is the most extreme example of Hokusai’s unusual approach. Mount Fuji appears smaller here than in most of the series’ other images. The great wave, arching over the view of the distant mountain, dominates the composition. In fact, Fuji is nearly eclipsed and might even be overlooked by a casual viewer. As if to prevent that, Hokusai designed the curling foam of the wave so as to lead the viewer’s gaze toward the far-off sacred mountain. Three boats, tossed by the waves, symbolize the inconsequence of humankind in relation to the power and majesty of nature.