Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian

Katsushika Hokusai

Japanese · 1760–1849

The most internationally recognised master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing, Hokusai produced over 30,000 works across a career spanning six decades. His Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, including The Great Wave off Kanagawa, defined the Western image of Japan and directly shaped the aesthetic of European Impressionism and Art Nouveau.

On now and coming soon exhibitions

Coming Soon

Hokusai: Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji from the Iuchi Collection

Starting Oct 20

The complete Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji shown in the UK for the first time, including The Great Wave.

Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige

Until Nov 15

Unmissable ukiyo-e prints including The Great Wave, still radically modern after 200 years

"There is not enough space (in this article, on the internet) to adequately describe the bands of colour that Hokusai gives to the skies through pine trees and plum gardens (one literal translation of mono no aware is “the ah!-ness of things”, which is perhaps as close as we can get)."

— The Guardian