In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa
Woodblock Print
19th century
19th century
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is perhaps Japan's most famous artist. He is best known for his designs for prints and printed books, although later in life he focussed increasingly on paintings.
This print is from Hokusai's ground-breaking series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, the first to exist exclusively of large-format prints of landscapes. It also made plentiful use of Prussian blue, a pigment which had only recently been introduced to Japan and was both expensive and rare.
This print is the most celebrated of the series, and indeed of all Japanese prints. In it, Mount Fuji is pictured through the hollow of a giant wave which threatens to engulf the boats below. The chaos of the scene at sea contrasts with the stately serenity of Fuji in the background.
This print is from Hokusai's ground-breaking series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, the first to exist exclusively of large-format prints of landscapes. It also made plentiful use of Prussian blue, a pigment which had only recently been introduced to Japan and was both expensive and rare.
This print is the most celebrated of the series, and indeed of all Japanese prints. In it, Mount Fuji is pictured through the hollow of a giant wave which threatens to engulf the boats below. The chaos of the scene at sea contrasts with the stately serenity of Fuji in the background.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Brief description | Woodblock print, 'In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa' from the series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan, later printing / reproduction of an original first published circa 1831. |
| Gallery label | All at sea
A terrifying wave crashes over the boats. It makes the volcano in the distance look tiny.
The sea can be dangerous, but sometimes you need to cross it to get somewhere.
[Young V&A, Imagine gallery short object label](2023) |
| Credit line | Thomas H. Lee Bequest |
| Production | Later reprint of original work |
| Summary | Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is perhaps Japan's most famous artist. He is best known for his designs for prints and printed books, although later in life he focussed increasingly on paintings. This print is from Hokusai's ground-breaking series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, the first to exist exclusively of large-format prints of landscapes. It also made plentiful use of Prussian blue, a pigment which had only recently been introduced to Japan and was both expensive and rare. This print is the most celebrated of the series, and indeed of all Japanese prints. In it, Mount Fuji is pictured through the hollow of a giant wave which threatens to engulf the boats below. The chaos of the scene at sea contrasts with the stately serenity of Fuji in the background. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1311-1922 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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