Hokusai's Great Wave

by Timothy Clark

'The Great Wave' is a colour woodblock print designed by Japanese artist Hokusai in around 1830. The print, of which numerous multiples were made, shows a monster of a wave rearing up and about to come crashing down on three fishing boats and their crews. One of a monumental series known as 'Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji', Hokusai's Great Wave - with the graceful snow-clad Mount Fuji on the horizon, unperturbed but wittily dwarfed by the towering strength of the wave that threatens to engulf the struggling boats - has become an iconic image of the power of nature and the relative smallness of man. One of the most famous pieces of Japanese art, this extraordinary artwork has had a huge impact worldwide and has served as a source of inspiration to artists, both past and present.

This beautifully illustrated book explores the meaning behind Hokusai's Great Wave, in the context of the Mount Fuji series and Japanese art as a whole. Taking an intimate look at the Wave's artistic and historical significance and its influence on popular culture, this concise introduction explains why Hokusai's modern masterpiece had such an impact after its creation in 1830 and why it continues to fascinate, inspire and challenge today.

Genres: Art, Japan, Nonfiction, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2011

About the author

Timothy Clark is Head of the Japanese Section in the Department of Asia at the British Museum.

Reviews

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Under the Wave off Kanagawa' by Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai's Great Wave is an excellent little book about one of my favourite works of art. It explains that, despite being known in the West as the Great Wave, it is actually a picture of Mount Fuji, one of Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji completed in the first half of the nineteenth century. In addition to discussing the various versions of the Great Wave and the actual composition of the print, the book explores the influence that European painting had on Japanese art (for example in the use of perspective) and the subsequent reciprocal influence Japanese art (such as Hokusai's prints) had on the European tradition.

[Gizem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Son zamanlarda Japon sanatıyla ilgili ufak ufak araştırmalara başlamıştım. Maalesef ki bu konuda Türkçe kaynak bulmak çok zor. Bu nedenle ben de şansımı yabancı dil kaynaklarda denedim ve bu kitabı bulduğum, okuduğum için çok mutluyum. Son zamanlarda okuduğum en keyifli sanat tarihi kitaplarından biriydi. Asya sanat tarihine dair bilgim çok sınırlı olduğumdan dolayı benim için fazlasıyla bilgilendirici bir okuma oldu. British Museum işbirliği ile hazırlanan kitabımız Ukiyo-e ustası Hokusai’nin eserlerini konu alıyor. Daha doğrusu odağında Great Wave ve Fuji Dağı Manzarası serisinin kalan eserleri var. Ukiyo-e ve sanatçıya dair çok az bilgim vardı bu nedenle okumaya ufak bir çekingenlikle başladım fakat kitap tam olarak başlangıç seviyesinde bilgiler sunduğu için beni hiç zorlamadı. The Great Wave, Hokusai’nin Otuz Altı Fuji Dağı Manzarası içinde yer alan en önemli ve en çok bilinen eser. Japon sanatının ikonik çalışmalarından biri olarak kabul ediliyor. Hatta başta Van Gogh ve Monet gibi birçok Avrupalı sanatçıya ilham olmuştur.

Hem okuması çok keyifliydi hem de bilgiler çok doğru bir düzende derlendiği için kaliteli bir okuma deneyimi yaşadım. Kesinlikle meraklılarına öneririm. Japon sanatıyla ilgili kaynak arayışına devam ediyorum, önerileriniz varsa beklerim!

[Damián González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cortito y al grano, me dio justo lo que estaba buscando, ni más ni menos. De forma muy sintética hace un recorrido por los antecedentes de la obra, sus significados y la huella que dejó en la cultura oriental y occidental.

Siendo una lectura tan breve, se la puedo recomendar a todos. Para aquellos que gusten un análisis más profundo, al final del libro hay lecturas recomendadas.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice introduction to Hokusai - this focuses on the Great Wave but also covers other pictures in the 36 views of Mt. Fuji series - The highlight for me is the final chapter From Local to Global Icon which looks at the enduring popularity of the Great Wave and some modern parodies, homages, from Debussy to Tintin. This guide is easy to read and doesn't get bogged down too much in technicality - there's also a pretty good mix, we get a little of Hokusai's life as well as an exploration of the woodbock art technique and the revolutionary use of Prussian Blue pigment.

[Sam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

With full colour plates, describes antecedents and influences of Hokusai's Great Wave. Puts it into historical context. Mine was a gift, but at £6.00 a treat for anyone.

[Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and short commentary of this influential print.

[Lærke Maj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy quick read and interesting knowledge

[Fabio Martínez Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting...

[Tweedledum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating dive into Hokusai’s great wave! I hope the British Museum put on an exhibition in the not too distant future of Hokusai’s work.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Info on the famous Japanese print.

[Thompson Urhiofe · Rating 5 out of 5]

good