Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist known for his woodblock prints, also known as ukiyo-e, landscapes and other images. He is considered a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, especially for his landscape art. His best-known work, "The Great Wave at Kanagawa", symbolizes the power of both nature and human willpower.
The wave
An interesting aspect of Hokusai's life is his late blossoming as an artist; his most famous works were created after the age of sixty. His most famous painting is "The Great Wave at Kanagawa" where several boats try to sail on a sea of gigantic waves. The largest wave in particular is impressive and resembles a monster with claws. This wave represents the power of nature and also the power of the rowers in the boats. Mount Fuji is in the background, but Hokusai probably also depicted it in the front wave, since that wave is exactly the same shape as Fuji from a different perspective. A notable hypothesis is that his daughter Oi may have created much of this work. Nevertheless, Hokusai's works have had a lasting influence not only in Japan but also far beyond.
Many examples of Hokusai's work can be found in renowned museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. His techniques and style also influenced Western artists such as Van Gogh and Degas, and contributed to the spread of Japanese art in the West.
