The exhibition titled "The Impact of Hokusai's Great Wave Under the Wave off Kanagawa-Tracing It's Origins and Trajectory" is now on view from June 18 to Aug.25, 2024.
Any one that see Great Wave can recognize it as the work depicted by Hokusai (1760～1849）who is one of the most renowned ukiyo-e artists in Japan. On July 3, 2024, Japan issued new banknotes for the first time in twenty years. The 1000 yen notes bear Hokusai's Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji on the back. Commemorating the issuance of the notes with the design of The Great Wave, this exhibition features trajectory of The Great Wave and the influence to other artists.
Prologue: The Great Wave on a New Banknotes
The Great Wave by Hokusai was selected as the design for the back of 1000 yen banknotes, According to the Ministry of Finance, it was selected because, Mt. Fuji motif exemplifies Japan and familiar to anybody in the world. Further-more, the iconic Great Wave has been enjoying its remarkable reputation as Ukiyo-e in Edo period (1603～1868) domestically and worldwide and has influenced other artists of domestic and overseas.
You can see the main theme, Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, and the photos of banknotes of 1000 yen.
葛飾北斎「冨嶽三十六景 神奈川沖浪裏」すみだ北斎美術館蔵（通期）※1
Katsushika Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
It was published around 1831.
*1 The artworks of the same title are substituted by a half term.
Section 1: The Edo Western Boom-Yearning for Foreign Lands
In the Edo era, the country closed the foreign contact. However Western and Chinese culture flowed in from Nagasaki in Kyushu and other points.
Hokusai was influenced by Dutch books and created Western-style prints, incorporating the chiaroscuro technique and Western perspective, which contributed to the depiction of giant foaming waves.
Katsushika Hokusai
Evening Snow at Ryogoku, from the series Eight Views of Edo
葛飾北斎「江戸八景 両国暮雪」
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (1st term)
It was published around 1830.
Taken by Michi at the press preview
Katsushika Hokusai, Peepshow Box, 葛飾北斎「覗機関」
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
*2 The artworks of the same title are substituted by a half term.
Section 2: Birth of the Grate Wave: Where Did This Wave Come From?
Hokusai became a pupil of Katsukawa Shunshō, the leading artist creating actor pictures, when he was nineteen. Hokusai had been interested in depicting waves in his forties and since then he continued to pursue the theme until immediately before his death.
You can see how Hokusai depicted waves changed over the years through his works from his early period to the birth of the Great Wave.
Katsushika Hokusai, Fuji from the Sea, from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, Vol. 2 The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
葛飾北斎『富嶽百景』二編 海上の不二 すみだ北斎美術館蔵（通期）
Katsushika Hokusai, Honmoku off the Coast of Kanagawa
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (1st term)
葛飾北斎「賀奈川沖本杢之図」すみだ北斎美術館蔵（前期）
Katsushika Hokusai, Takama and Isohagi Commit Suicide in the Sea, from Strange Tales of the Bow Moon, Vol. 3, Book 1
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
葛飾北斎『椿説弓張月』続編 巻一 高間礒萩洋中に自殺す
Section 3: The Great Wave's Influence: How Far Did that Wave Go?
You can trace how much painters and other artists acting after Hokusai were influenced by the significance of the Great Waves through displays.
Part 1: Ripple Effect on Painters and Other Artists, Post-Hokusai
You can see works of contemporary artists, craft artists, and other who were
influenced by Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, On the Waves at Kakuda on the Way to Sado, Experiences the Wave Mantra, from Concise Illustrated Biography of Nichiren
歌川国芳「高祖御一代略図 佐州流刑角田波題目」
立正大学古書資料館（前期） Rissho University Rare Library (1st term)
しりあがり寿「ちょっと可笑しなほぼ冨嶽三十六景 太陽から見た富士山」／SHIRIAGARI Kotobuki, Fuji as the Sun Sees it, from the series the Nearly Thirty-six Somewhat Ridiculous Views
The Sumida Hokusai Museum ©SHIRIAGARI Kotobuki (all term)
Part 2: Ripple Effect on Product Design
You can see displays of products which Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji was used as a design, works by artists that utilized Lego those Great Wave, and Lego and Rubik's Cube products with Great Wave designs.
HI-LITE EXPORT : Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
富嶽三十六景
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
Taken by Michi at the press preview
Tsuruya Kōkei
Katsushika Hokusai, from Portraits Celebrating Five Ukyo-e Artists
The Sumida Hokusai Museum (all terms)
*3 The artworks of the same title are substituted by a half term.
It was published in 2017.
*Taken by Michi at the press preview
For more information, please access here.
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