The Great Wave | Hokusai’s Masterpiece
Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa is one of the most instantly recognizable images in art history. Created during Japan’s Edo period, it is a dramatic composition; a towering wave frozen at the moment to collapse, fragile fishermen in small boats and Mount Fuji as a small but significant observer in the distance. The scene captures an instant of tension between nature’s power and human fragility, yet the fishermen appear calm and… confident?
Waves symbolize balance and harmony in Japanese art and are commonly depicted with other natural elements, in this case the grounded Mount Fuji, to represent their interconnection. Force and fragility, movement and stillness. This balance of elements along with the bold lines and dynamic movement in freeze give the image an energy that still feels strikingly modern.
Curiosities around The Great Wave
Hokusai created The Great Wave in his early seventies, at an age when he believed he was only beginning to truly understand nature and that his greatest work still lay ahead of him—a rare humility for an artist of his stature. It is often noted that his death was later said to be linked to a lightning strike—a tragic coincidence for an artist so deeply captivated by nature’s forces. Whether symbolic or historical, the story reinforces the idea of a creative life surrendered to nature.
One lesser-known detail is Hokusai’s use of Prussian blue, a newly imported pigment at the time. Its depth and durability gave The Great Wave an intensity unlike earlier prints—and is one reason the image has retained its visual power over centuries.
The Great Wave‘s Impermanence and Imprint
Originally an affordable woodblock print, The Great Wave traveled far beyond Hokusai’s lifetime and intentions. After his death, the image crossed borders, inspired Western masters such as Van Gogh, and eventually became a global symbol of Japanese art. In 2024, it even appeared on Japan’s ¥1,000 banknote –quite an achievement for a work once made for everyday circulation.
Perhaps the most striking attribute of its cultural journey is its presence today in digital form, as a widely used emoji. From paper to currency to pixels, the image of The Great Wave has taken on a life entirely of its own. One can only wonder what Hokusai—who believed his greatest work still lay ahead—would make of an artwork that continues to evolve, long after its creator lost all control over its fate.
If you are interested in Hokusai’s botanical prints, a selection of our favourites are included in a special collection. For a closer look, click here.