<b>THE GREAT WAVE OFF KANAGAWA</b> / Katsushika Hokusai1830-31<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is one of Hokusai’s masterpieces and arguably the most important print ever produced. It stands as an icon alongside da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Edvard Munch’s The Scream. The print has captivated the imitation of countless admirers and has left a significant influence in its wake, inspiring the 19th-century Impressionist painters of Europe, as well as artists across all genres of artistic expression. Current research suggests Hokusai’s Great Wave even inspired Van Gogh’s masterwork, The Starry Night, 1889. Nearly two hundred years since its inception, the work continues to enthrall audiences and collectors.

Though the design’s impact cannot be overstated, it may be surprising for some to note that Hokusai’s Great Wave was one design of 36 in a series dedicated to Mt. Fuji. This sacred mountain has captivated Japanese artists for centuries. With its graceful and distinctive form, the towering mountain has stood as both a source of inspiration and a challenge to artists. It is said that every Japanese artist must take on the challenge of capturing Mt. Fuji. Being the daring and self-assured artist he was, Hokusai dedicated an entire series to Fuji, depicting the mountain’s grandeur in various thought-provoking renderings.

 In this work, Hokusai brilliantly depicts a towering wave at its crest whose collapsing form is about to swallow Mt. Fuji and the two boats below. Only an artist like Hokusai would dare to turn the size of Mt. Fuji on its head and depict it with such a diminutive stance. The striking comparison works—as it provides the viewer with an altered sense of scale that highlights the enormity of the cresting wave. Hokusai provides us with a moment of awe for the power of nature and the beauty of its potency and impermanence.

Connoisseur's Note

This impression of the Great Wave is part of an earlier printing, as most of the fine lines of the key block remain intact. Later impressions will demonstrate significant wear and losses to the key block outline in the title cartouche and other areas throughout the design. The work is in an outstanding state of preservation, retaining a full-sheet size, including the impression’s original margins.