![]() Hokusai was well-versed in the history of Japanese and Chinese art and would have known some of the antecedents to his remarkable wave. In the image above left, we see a huge wave similar to the Kanagawa version, as well as express boats navigating in the troughs. Indeed, the vessels in the Kanagawa design are also express delivery boats rushing the early morning catch of fish to market. Hokusai had already published his own prototype of the wave in 1800-1805 for a horizontal chûban (185 x 245 mm) titled in kana script Oshiokuri hatô tsûsen no zu ("Express delivery boats rowing through waves": おしおくりはとうつうせんのず) and signed "Hokusai egaku" (ほくさゐゑかく) in a horizontal style mimicking European writing. ![]() Also, the fugitive pinkish yellow cloud is very well preserved, whereas most often, it is faded. Scientific analysis has demonstrated that both synthetic imported Prussian blue (also called "Berlin Blue," bero-ai in Japanese: ベロリン藍 or ベロ藍) and traditional indigo or ai (藍 Polygonum tinctorium Ait.) were used in Hokusai's Kanagawa design to create variable hues. The dominant color here is blue, or more accurately, shades of different blues. Even the white space within the cloud form at the upper right seems to mimic the cresting wave. The upper curve of the wave, poised to crash down upon three oshiokuri-bune ("fast boats": 押送船) transporting live fish in the early morning, invites the viewer's gaze along a diagonal toward the sacred mountain. Fuji, small and distant, is echoed in the wave below the larger cresting mass of water, itself an incomplete triangle. Hokuei's composition presents a low horizon and exploits repetition and geometric forms as a means of focus and balance. The imposing composition was said to have inspired Debussy's symphonic sketch La Mer (The Sea) and Rilke's poem Der Berg (The Mountain). Hokusai is famous for what might very well be the most recognizable and admired woodblock print in the world - the iconic Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the wave off Kanagawa: 神奈川沖浪裏) from his series Fugaku Sanjûrokkei (Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji: 冨嶽三十六景) circa 1831, which he signed "Hokusai aratame Iitsu hitsu" (Drawn by Iitsu, formerly known as Hokusai: 北斎改爲一筆). Considered by many to be the greatest artist of the ukiyo-e school, he is said to have made over 30,000 designs (prints, drawings, and paintings) on subjects or in formats as diverse as landscapes beautiful women kabuki actor portraits legendary figures and historical tales still life nature, including birds and flowers erotica surimono sketch books illustrated albums, books, poetry compilations and novels and didactic painting manuals. ![]() Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北齋) was an artist of such prodigious skill and imagination that it seems inadequate to discuss his achievements in anything less than a book-length exposition. Series: Fugaku Sanjûrokkei (Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji: 冨嶽三十六景) Hokusai: Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the wave off Kanagawa: 神奈川沖浪裏), c.
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