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A5 Gerry Zhu

This document provides a critique of Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa". In 3 sentences: As a young artist, Hokusai was influenced by Mount Fuji which was a symbol of immortality in his Buddhist beliefs. His most famous work, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" depicts a huge wave threatening boats off the coast near Mount Fuji, and uses contrast and repetition to depict the movement and power of the waves with Mount Fuji representing salvation. The critique praises the work for its aesthetic appeal and deeper religious symbolism that has contributed to its status as Hokusai's most famous piece and one of the best examples of uki

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86 views3 pages

A5 Gerry Zhu

This document provides a critique of Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa". In 3 sentences: As a young artist, Hokusai was influenced by Mount Fuji which was a symbol of immortality in his Buddhist beliefs. His most famous work, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" depicts a huge wave threatening boats off the coast near Mount Fuji, and uses contrast and repetition to depict the movement and power of the waves with Mount Fuji representing salvation. The critique praises the work for its aesthetic appeal and deeper religious symbolism that has contributed to its status as Hokusai's most famous piece and one of the best examples of uki

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Assignment #5

Gerry Zhu
Art Critique
April 5th, 2019
Joseph Boyd
The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1829~1833) by Katsushika Hokusai
Japanese woodblock printing.
Viewed at numerous locations: Metropolitan Museum of Art, British Museum, Art Institute of
Chicago, etc.
As a young child, Hokusai grew up with the art of painting. He had worked as

a bookseller, an apprentice engraver, and an apprentice of Katsukawa Shunshō, one of

the foremost ukiyo-e(woodblock painters) at the time. From there, he became a famous

artist, producing 15 volumes of sketches entitled Manga, a 240m2 painting of a

Buddhist monk, and his famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, where The Great Wave

off Kanagawa originates. His frequent depiction of Mount Fuji stems from his religious

beliefs. He was a member of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, who associate the North

Star with a deity. His chosen name is an abbreviation of Hokushinsai, which means

“North Star Studio”. Hokusai had an obsession with the mountain, as it was the symbol

of immortality and eternal life.

His most famous work, and the our subject, is The Great Wave off

Kanagawa. It was created in the traditional Japanese woodblock printing process,

sometime between 1829 and 1833 (Edo period), with the original block produced over

5000 images. The printing shows a gigantic wave crashing onto three boats, off the coast

of Kanagawa, a town now known as the city of Yokohama, with Mt. Fuji in the

background. The background offsets the roaring waves with its mellow tone and

intensity. This adds contrast, and makes the lower half of the printing the main focus of

the work. The intense blue tones grab the viewer’s attention, and makes them stay. The

use of white in the water emphasize the speed of the waves, depicting this as a split-

second image. The white particles in the air also help to show the impending crash, as
Assignment #5
Gerry Zhu
Art Critique
April 5th, 2019
Joseph Boyd
they are the harbinger to the tidal waves. The waves’ shape also curls, showing that it is

about to break. This line curving in draws the viewer’s eye to the centre of the piece,

where Mount Fuji is depicted in the background. The quality of the work is notable, as

not many colours are used to create such an interesting scene. There are clear lines

between the colours, with the background having the only blend in the work. There is

repetition in colour, line, and shape within the waves, giving us a sense of rhythm and

movement in the work.

Judging from the illustrator’s obsession with Mount Fuji, it is very likely that it is

behind the meaning of this work. This scene is a dangerous one, but has a sense of

serenity as well. The rowers are in peril, as the waves come to crash on them, yet the

circular droplets seem as though they are not in motion, and the blended background

calms the printing, and surrounds Mount Fuji. As a symbol of immortality, this work

could symbolize the power of the mountain, and the possibility of it saving these men

from the waves. While it may appear doomed for them, the scene shows an ominous and

spiritual feel with Mount Fuji at its centre.

I believe this work is very interesting, especially when the inspiration for it is

known. Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, with nothing being too heavy or

confusing, but it also has meaning beyond an image, as a religious symbol. There is a

reason this work, out of all of those that Hokusai made, is the most famous. It is because

it is a perfect representation of the time that he lived in, and what he believed in

culturally. Just imagine: you were one of those rowers, about to be swallowed by the

tide. Now imagine that time freezes, the water stops, and all you see is the mountain,
Assignment #5
Gerry Zhu
Art Critique
April 5th, 2019
Joseph Boyd
glaring back at you. I personally love this artwork, and believe it is one of the best that I

have seen.

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