Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Auction
Lot 131:
Katsushika Hokusai Japanese Woodblock - The Great Wave
Description
Description
Woodblock print depicting the iconic composition of a towering wave cresting over fishing boats, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance, after the celebrated design by Katsushika Hokusai from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. Printed in shades of blue with characteristic stylized wave forms, foam detail, and graduated background. The image retains the dramatic tension and graphic clarity that have made this composition one of the most enduring images in Japanese art.
Details
Artist / Attribution: Katsushika Hokusai (
Title: Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)

Series: Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
Medium: Woodblock print on paper

Date / Period: date unknown

Dimensions: approx. 10.25 × 14.5 in. (image), excluding margins

Condition: Overall toned paper with scattered foxing and small age-related spots; some edge wear and handling marks; colors and lines remain clear.
Catalogue Note
Under the Wave off Kanagawa, commonly known as The Great Wave, is among the most recognizable images in the history of Japanese art and has been reproduced, reprinted, and reinterpreted over many generations.
The composition’s bold use of line, dynamic rhythm, and dramatic contrast between human fragility and natural force exemplify the enduring appeal of ukiyo-e imagery and explain the continued demand for impressions of this design across international markets. Examples of the composition, in various states and printings, are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.
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