Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) features the fabulous image Under the Wave off Kanagawa, better known as the Great Wave. First published for the New Year of 1831, the ukiyo-e series of large, colour woodblock prints was, due its immense popularity, added to so that 36 views became 46.
Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) Katsushika Hokusai Japanese ca. 1830–32
While Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji is the most famous ukiyo-e series to focus on Mount Fuji, there are several other series with the same subject, including 36 Views of Mount Fuji, by Hiroshige, and 100 View of Mount Fuji, also by Hokusai.
South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) Katsushika Hokusai Japanese ca. 1830–32 – postcard
Mount Fuji is a popular subject for Japanese art due to its cultural and religious significance. This belief can be traced to the The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (aka The Tale of Princess Kaguya(, where a goddess deposits the elixir of life on the peak. You can see the story animated below
Each of the images was made through a process whereby an image drawn on paper was used to guide the cutting of a woodblock. This block was then covered with ink and applied to paper to create the image. The complexity of Hokusai’s images includes the wide range of colours he used, which required the use of a series of blocks for each of the colours used in the images.
Kajikazawa in Kai Province (Kōshū Kajikazawa), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) Katsushika Hokusai Japanese ca. 1830–32
Under the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa (Fukagawa Mannenbashi shita), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) Katsushika Hokusai Japanese ca. 1830–32
Storm below Mount Fuji (Sanka no haku u), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) Katsushika Hokusai Japanese ca. 1830–32
We have prints and cards from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai in the shop.
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