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| The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1833) – Katsushika Hokusai |
Katsushika Hokusai is considered to be one of the best artists in Japanese literature, and many western artists have been inspired by his work. He also played a key role in the popularization of the landscape genre through his famous series of landscape prints Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. These prints depict the mountain from various places and in different seasons and weather conditions.
Also known as The Great Wave or simply The Wave, this painting is the first print of the series; Hokusai's most famous work; and perhaps the most identifiable piece of Japanese art in the world. It shows a large wave of menacing vessels off the coast of the Japanese town of Kanagawa. Mount Fuji can be seen in the backdrop of the print. The Great Wave off Kanagawa was a source of inspiration for artists of many genres, especially the Impressionists. This is one of the most repeated and recognized works of art in the world.