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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Japan: Myths to Manga

Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji

Woodblock Print
ca. 1831 (made)
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.

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Discover more about this object
read Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) Produced in their many thousands and hugely popular during the Edo period (1615 – 1868), these colourful woodblock prints, known as ukiyo-e, depicted scenes from everyday Japan.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (series title)
  • Under the Wave off Kanagawa (assigned by artist)
  • Great Wave (popular title)
Brief description
Woodblock print, 'Under the Wave off Kanagawa' from the series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan, about 1831.
Physical description
Colour print from wood blocks
Styles
Credit line
Gift of the Misses Alexander
Subject depicted
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.4823-1916

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Record createdJanuary 17, 2003
Record URL
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