Rough Waves
Ogata Kōrin · 1706
Why it's great
Wild waves curl and crash in swirling gold and blue patterns on a folding screen, with white foam like tiny claws. Ogata Kōrin painted this in the early 1700s, and the waves look both realistic and like a design. Years later, Hokusai would paint his famous wave. It's one of the great sea pictures of Japan.
👀 Look closer!
The waves have curved, claw-like shapes. What do they remind you of?
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Ogata Kōrin was born in Kyoto into a rich family of fabric merchants and became one of Japan's greatest decorative painters. He founded the Rinpa style of bold shapes and gold leaf. His folding screens, such as 'Red and White Plum Blossoms', are national treasures. He died in Kyoto in 1716.
