A Wave In Passing

Katsushika Hokusai’s much celebrated series, Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjûrokkei), was begun in 1830, when the artist was 70 years old. This tour-de-force series established the popularity of landscape prints, which continues to this day. Perhaps most striking about the series is Hokusai’s copious use of the newly affordable Berlin blue pigment, featured in many of the compositions in the color for the sky and water. Mount Fuji is the protagonist in each scene, viewed from afar or up close, during various weather conditions and seasons, and from all directions.

*O*

    Why ever did I post it? Well, I love those Japanese wood block prints and this one especially.

    There are things to puzzle about in the scene. Are those tentacles? Or what? Is that some sort of a boat up on the right side? Or is that blade-like thing in front of Fuji-Yama the prow of a long thin craft?

    I hope you like it too. There are many others, equally fine.

    Below is one by Utagawa Hiroshige. 

    Another water scene, but much calmer!

    And one last one by Kawase Hasui, who lived until 1957, so it's much newer.

    I could sure live with one of those on the wall!