The Great Wave of Kanagawa, by Katsushika Hokusai
There are several reasons why this particular print, out of the 36 others, caught my attention. First, I believe that, in hindsight, this has become one of the most widely recognized and well-known works by Katsushika Hokusai. Additionally, many people around the world have likely seen The Great Wave off Kanagawa, but few realize that it is part of a series of 36 woodblock prints. Moreover, this image has been widely marketed in various contemporary and commercial mediums. It’s appeared on my Instagram feed, has been printed on a coffee cup I purchased at The Art Institute of Chicago, and even inspired Apple’s wave emoji, which, in my opinion, bears striking resemblances to Hokusai’s iconic print.
On a compositional level, this print has much to reveal, starting with its structure and segmentation. The wave itself follows a dynamic radial pattern that leads the viewer’s eye from the boats navigating the turbulent water at the bottom, up to the crest of the wave, and back down again to the boats. This cyclical motion draws the eye in a continuous loop around the print, an important consideration when thinking about the planning and carving that go into creating these woodblock prints.
It’s also important to remember that The Great Wave off Kanagawa is part of Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series. In all 36 prints, Mount Fuji is a consistent presence. In some, the mountain is the central subject, while in others, including The Great Wave, it appears more subtly. In fact, for years, I had no idea that Mount Fuji was even included in this print. However, after reading the Wikipedia article, I went back to examine the image, and there it was—right in front of me. Nearly front and center, the mountain is cleverly disguised as a wave. At first glance, it seems to contribute to the overwhelming sense of motion created by the massive wave. But once you realize that the small triangular shape protruding from the water is not a wave, but Mount Fuji, the whole dynamic shifts. The sense of motion diminishes, replaced by a feeling of stillness and solidity, with the mountain serving as a stabilizing pillar in the composition.
To top off this magnificent work of art, Hokusai employs layers of texture and overlapping techniques to convey a strong sense of depth and contrast, further enhancing the print's visual impact.
