Kirifuri Waterfall at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province by Katsushika Hokusai

Kirifuri Waterfall at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province c. 1832

print, ink, color-on-paper

abstract painting

egg art

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

tile art

fluid art

color-on-paper

acrylic on canvas

naive art

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This woodblock print, "Kirifuri Waterfall at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province", was created by Katsushika Hokusai around 1832. The print depicts a cascading waterfall against a backdrop of verdant foliage, showcasing Hokusai's mastery of color and detail, characteristic of his "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" series. The dynamic composition, use of perspective, and the inclusion of tiny figures observing the powerful waterfall, bring the scene to life and exemplify the artistic brilliance of this renowned Japanese printmaker.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542–1616) chose the mountainous region north of Edo as the site of his mausoleum. The construction of roadways into the area made it a popular destination for ordinary travelers, who journeyed from afar to pay their respects to the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Visitors also enjoyed the area’s natural beauty, which included several spectacular waterfalls. Hokusai’s vision of Kirifuri Falls is an especially dynamic image in his waterfall series. He depicted only the lower portion of the two-tier falls but has it dominate the picture, thereby emphasizing its scale and power. The diminutive human figures—viewing the falls from a spit of land in the foreground and walking and kneeling precariously partway up the steep slope—accentuate the falls’ grandeur.