The image is part of a series of prints titled, “Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji” which was made by Hokusai between 1830 and 1833. He discovered Western prints that came to Japan by way of the Dutch trade and became interested in Dutch artworks. His inspiration is represented through the linear perspective of the Mount Fuji in the background which is made tiny by the use of this perspective. Mount Fuji doesn’t dominate the frame; instead the foreground is filled with this massive cresting wave whose ends resemble snow falling. Observing the waves movement, it follows the Japanese style of reading – From right to left, appears to be swallowing up the mountain and depicts moments before crashing down onto the three fishing boats. The use of repeating colors - Royal blues and whites of the ocean, which is also seen on the mountain and the light tan colors of the boats and sky – creates a pattern from dark to light. The entire image feels very calm, there are no aggressive colors such as red, just soothing colors, almost like the artist wants to make us feel in peace. 

 

Bibliography:

 

Khan Academy. (2019). Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave). [online] Available at: 

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/japan-art/a/hokusai-under-the-wave-off-kanagawa-the-great-wave [Accessed 22 Apr. 2019].

 

Houkusai (1830) The Great Wave off Kanagawa. [ink and color on paper] The Metropolitan 

Museum of Art, New York.