The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Katsushika Hokusai · 1830
Why it's great
A giant wave curls over like a claw above three small fishing boats, with Mount Fuji tiny and calm in the distance. Katsushika Hokusai made this woodblock print around 1831 when he was about 70, and it became the most famous image of Japanese art in the world. Thousands of copies were printed, and it inspired artists in Europe like Van Gogh and Monet. It's a perfect picture of nature's power.
👀 Look closer!
Count the three boats, then spot tiny Mount Fuji hiding under the wave. What do the wave's foamy fingertips look like?
Where to see it
📍 British MuseumCamden, United Kingdom
Open in Maps ↗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.
Katsushika Hokusai was born in Edo (now Tokyo) and worked as an artist for over 70 years. He made thousands of drawings and woodblock prints, including The Great Wave and the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. He changed his name dozens of times and said he hoped to get better until he was 110. He died in 1849, at about age 89.
