Few images are as instantly recognisable as the Hokusai Great Wave. Formally titled Under the Wave off Kanagawa, the print shows a towering wave about to crash over fragile boats, with Mount Fuji small and calm in the distance. It is a masterpiece of Japanese woodblock printing and a cornerstone of any study of Japanese art.
Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was one of the most prolific and inventive artists of the Edo period. He worked across painting, book illustration and prints, and changed his artistic name many times during his long career.
His sketchbooks, the Hokusai Manga, gathered thousands of images of people, animals and nature. They show the restless curiosity that drove him well into old age.
Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
The Great Wave was published around 1830–1832 as part of the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, issued by the publisher Nishimuraya Yohachi. The series proved so popular that additional designs were added, bringing the total to forty-six.
Other celebrated prints from the set include Fine Wind, Clear Morning, often called “Red Fuji”. Together they present the sacred mountain from many viewpoints, seasons and moods.
Technique and Colour
Like other ukiyo-e prints, the Great Wave was a collaborative product. The artist supplied the design, carvers cut the woodblocks, and printers applied colour by hand.
- Prussian blue: the series made striking use of this imported synthetic pigment.
- Western perspective: the low horizon shows Hokusai’s interest in European pictorial ideas.
- Multiple impressions: the blocks produced many prints, and later impressions show wear.
- Composition: the curling wave frames Mount Fuji, contrasting motion and stillness.
A Global Icon
From the mid-nineteenth century, Japanese prints reached Europe in growing numbers. Hokusai’s work fed the fashion for Japonisme and impressed artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Monet collected Japanese prints, and his collection at Giverny is still displayed today.
The Great Wave has since become a symbol of Japan itself, appearing endlessly in design and popular culture.
Collecting Hokusai Prints
Because the Great Wave exists in many impressions, collectors must judge each one carefully. Early impressions with sharp lines, clear colour and good condition are most admired. Fading, trimming, later reprints and modern reproductions are all common pitfalls.
Key questions include the impression’s date, colour preservation, margins and provenance. Our Japanese art category explores ukiyo-e and related traditions, while our artists section introduces Hokusai’s peers. Collectors with prints to sell may consult our consignment team.
Hokusai’s Later Years
The Great Wave was created when Hokusai was already around seventy, yet he continued to work with remarkable energy. In later life he devoted himself increasingly to painting, producing brush works of great power and freedom.
He expressed the hope of improving his art with every passing year, and his late output supports that ambition. His daughter Katsushika Ōi, herself a gifted painter, worked alongside him. Hokusai died in 1849 at around the age of eighty-eight, leaving an influence that reaches far beyond Japan and that continues to shape how the world sees Japanese art.
Whether admired in a museum or studied in a private collection, the Great Wave continues to reward close attention. Its balance of drama and calm captures the essence of Hokusai’s genius.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Great Wave made?
It was published around 1830–1832 as part of Hokusai’s series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.
Is the Great Wave a painting?
No. It is a polychrome woodblock print, so many impressions were produced from carved blocks.
Where can I see an impression?
Impressions are held by many major museums, including the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Tokyo National Museum.
