Hokusai: Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji

by Katsushika Hokusai, Prestel Publishing (Editor)

Color reproductions of 46 Hokusai woodcut prints with Mt. Fuji in foreground or background: the series of 36 original prints plus 10 that Hokusai added to the series later. Introductory remarks and commentary on each print by Ichitaro Kondo in Japanese, with English translations by Charles S. Terry. Includes map of probable location from which Hokusai viewed Mt. Fuji to create each print.

Genres: Art, Japan, Nonfiction

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of this book Refers to Terry’s version of the book. As there were many different authors to compile and write books on the woodblock prints in the series by Hokusai’s 36 views with differences mainly being in the write ups of each artwork, the introduction, and quality of the prints. From what I’ve gathered.

Rather than going very specific into each artwork or the book I’ll be brief.

I really enjoyed this book and all the art in it. If your a fan of the painting ‘The Great Wave.’ But haven’t seen any other of Hokusai’s art this serves as a wonderful introduction to his work. Which is honestly all really good and I believe everyone should see and appreciate more of his work beyond just his most iconic piece ‘The Great Wave.’ Most of his art in here is in the historically traditional woodblock print Japanese style you’d see in art museums, with subject matters that focus on scenery and people in scenery. Which I liked as usually Japanese historical woodblock art has more of a focus on woman subjects, but not in Hokusai’s art.

Highly recommend to anyone interested in the painting ‘The great wave.’ Or Japanese art history.

My only warning would be that, I think this book is considered an antique and may be hard to get your hands on. (At least the edition of the book I had was an antique.) also because of this book being an antique I personally spent 40 dollars on my copy, and I wouldn’t say that’s a bad price, but to some it may be more than their willing to spend on a book with only a little writing and mostly just 40 or so art prints. So be weary this book could be “costly.” (Idk though because most hardcover books are around 20-40 dollars anyway.)

[Devero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo ammetto, ho per lo più solo riguardato le immagini, anche perché l'opera mi è già nota da molto tempo. In effetti è una delle opere nipponiche più note nel mondo, ed in particolare la "Grande Onda al largo di Kanagawa" è forse la più nota delle immagini di Hokusai e di tutta la produzione artistica del XIX secolo nel mondo.

Eppure, per quanto magnifica nel suo dinamicismo e realismo, seppur stilizzato, la Grande Onda non è ne unica nel suo splendore ne la migliore delle 36 vedute del Monte Fuji, a cui seguì le 100 vedute del Monte Fuji.
Personalmente ho sempre preferito a questa "Eijiri nella provincia di Suruga" con il vento che fa volare i fogli di carta ed i cappelli di paglia, con il Fuji maestoso rappresentato con una sola linea continua, spezzato dalla pianta rachitica piegata dal vento e la gente inclinata per opporsi alla furia dell'aria. Pare quasi di sentirlo fischiare, il vento.

Per il resto abbiamo altri capolavori, quale il Bottaio che fa la botte, o meglio, a me pare una di quelle enormi tinozze da bagno tradizionali, con una composizione più statica eppure eccelsa. O "Il Passo di Inume nella provincia di Kai" con le persone che affrontano la salita al passo e sulla sinistra una magnifica visione del Fujiyama, ma qui qualcuno potrebbe giustamente sostenere che il mio amore per le montagne mi influenza troppo.
A loro risponderò con i due pescatori, marito e moglie, sullo scoglio con le lenze tra la nebbia di "Kajikazawa nella provincia di Kai": da sempre una delle mie vedute preferite.

Insomma, c'è tanto da scoprire nel reportage di immagini che Hokusai fece, girovagando per il Giappone della sua epoca.
Una qualsiasi edizione con le vedute vale la pena.

5 stelle.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful art book of Holisai’s work on mt fuji, really enjoyed the commentary for each piece! Read as a family together

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of several books of color reproductions of Hokusai’s woodcut prints of Mt. Fuji, this depicting his original series of 36 prints. Mt. Fuji is pictured in various ways, foreground, background, as the print’s main focus, as context, etc. Due to the popularity of the prints, Hokusai added another 10 prints to this series, for a total of 46, which are all reproduced in this volume.

Though Hokusai is designated as author, the excellent commentary bears crediting. Written by Ichitaro Kondo in Japanese, and translated to English by Charles S. Terry, the introductory chapter and commentary on each provides historical, cultural, and artistic context for the woodcuts. There is also delightful biographical information about Hokusai, for example that he changed his name many times and actually signed these prints as the artist “formerly known as Hokusai.’

Since this volume contains reproductions of earlier prints made from each woodblock, the commentators also note the undesirable effects produced in later prints as the woodblocks deteriorated and became saturated. This is of value to collectors, since popular prints were reproduced in large numbers and might be available, but in varying degrees of fineness.

Included is a map of the probable location from which Hokusai viewed Mt. Fuji to create each print.

A thoroughly enjoyable book!

[Meenakshisankar M · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mount Fuji under the Great Wave off Kanagawa" is an iconic woodblock print artwork by the Japanese painter Hokusai. Recently I had the good fortune of viewing the original in the Art Institute of Chicago as part of a special exhibit. I came to know that it is part of a series of 36 artworks created by Hokusai, representing different views of Mount Fuji. I got a hold of this collection to study the various artworks. This series alone qualifies Hokusai as one of the greatest artists of all-time. The way he has explored and represented the scenery of Japan using the frame of showing Mount Fuji is astonishing. Since Mt. Fuji is easily represented as a triangle, Hokusai has used this to play with setting up the compositions in different geometric patterns of circles, triangles, rectangles, and the effect is spectacular. Each painting is accompanied with excellent commentary that really brings out the thought-process of Hokusai into vivid detail. Undoubtedly a great collection for art lovers.

[Michelle Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely gorgeous book, it fans out with thick card stock and high quality reproductions of all the pictures in Hokusai's series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" (even though there are 46 total, the series was so popular at the time, he made more). It's enclosed in a sturdy slipcover with a second book describing each picture so there is nothing to dilute the images themselves in the main book. Until this series, landscape art was considered "lesser" but after the explosion of public opinion, the genre became a Japanese staple.

What I like about these, other than the art style itself, is the "slice of life" aspect. Mount Fuji, while technically the subject, takes a literal background to the people, places, and things of 1800s Japan. I love this book.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. It is definitely needed in my collection.

[Felix Schoonjans · Rating 5 out of 5]

best selection of paintings of hokusai

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it does what it says on the tin. No more, no less.

[Evan Milner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating refers to the Prestel edition of Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.

While the print selection and reproduction of the Prestel edition is not up to the standard set by Taschen's stunning Ukiyo-e publications, for the price this is a bargain. The accordion-foldout format works surprisingly well. The colours may not leap off the page as in more expensive editions, but the lines are crisp and all but the smallest details are captured. The notes are no more than perfunctory, but happily they are printed in a separate booklet so that nothing interrupts the flow of Hokusai's images.

[John Stanifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you don't know a thing about Japanese art, you probably know Hokusai without even realizing it.

Judging by the number of reproductions of "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," it might just be the most popular work of Japanese art ever, at least outside of Japan.

"Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" is a famous collection of Hokusai's prints, and it's famous for good reason. The artist presents dozens of scenes featuring Japan's Mount Fuji from different angles, with different things going on in the foreground.

Almost all of the prints are a mixture of everyday human activities taking place in natural surroundings, with Mount Fuji--eternal, watchful, in a sense uncaring--looking over it all.

It's all very mesmerizing.

For what it's worth, my favorite print is (probably) "Yoshida on the Tokaido," a scene inside a tea house looking out on Mount Fuji. This one's interesting for its mix of people from different castes (two women are looking out the window while their servants take a rest by the luggage).

By the way . . . the title "36 Views of Mount Fuji" is somewhat misleading, since there are actually 46 (!) prints in this collection, not 36. Thank goodness this beautiful edition that caught my eye at a bookstore recently came with a separate commentary on the prints.

The story is that the original edition came with 36 prints, and it was so successful that the artist's publisher asked for 10 more prints, which were added to later editions. I guess they never felt the need to change the number in the title.

Regardless . . . this is a must-own for art enthusiasts and those interested in Japanese history and culture. The variety of scenes here is fascinating . . . and illuminating on several levels.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book. 20 years ago when we lived in japan I read it to prepare for our time there. I dusted it off this summer just before we went again for a week. Good insights. Great one liners. I would definitely recommend this for someone who had connections to japan or is traveling there.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book of his work. Especially liked #24 although most all I really enjoy, and of course the "Great Wave."

[Patricia Innes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book - it shows the reader ho complex it can be to be a foreigner and try to fit it. Also, it gives the reader a good look at Japanese society.