The Great Wave

• Title

  The Great Wave off Kanagawa
• Date

  1830
• Series

  Part of a series named “Thirty-six view of Mount Fuji”
• Artist

  Japanese Ukiyo-e artist - Katsushika Hokusai
• Purpose

  Highlights the absolute power of water over other elements such as earth and humans as well.
• Give a composition point about the wave - asymmetrical

  Point: Breath-taking composition is asymmetrical

  
  

  Reasoning: Each side of the print juxtaposes one another, as wave continues to swoop across print and increase in scale on left-hand side

  
  

  Effect: Emphasise the threat of dynamic and menacing wave

  
• Give composition point about wave - circular

  Point: Circular composition

  
  

  Reasoning: Indicated through one of the three boats in foreground, the increasing wave in middle ground, the claw of the wave close to centre and lastly the static Mount Fuji in distant background.

  
  

  Effect: Intensify the ongoing power and strength that water has over other elements depicted in the landscape of the artwork.

  
  

  Additional: However, the circular composition could have also been created to help frame Mount Fuji within the print due to its sacredness as a religious landmark within Japan.

  
• Give composition point about claws of wave + scale

  
  

  Point: Represents the wave as disharmonious to man

  
  

  Reasoning: Not only due to not only zoomorphism indicated through repetition of 'claw like' features on spume at crest of the wave, & but also the immense scale of the wave which engulfs the fisherman below by dominating the print.

  
  

  Effect: Create tension due to the ambiguity of the scene as it is unclear whether the fisherman will survive and arrive at the Edo market to sell the bonito fish.

  
• Give a colour point about palette

  Point:  Hokusai also uses a limited palette

  
  

  Reasoning: Includes soothing yet vivid colours such as: grey, white, yellow and most importantly three shades of Prussian blue.
• Give a colour point about sky

  Point: Sky printed into a muted yellow hue

  Effect: Clouds and sky could be a hopeful sign that fisherman will survive the threatening storm.
• Give a colour point about sky colours juxtaposed to + context

  Point: Yet, these yellow colours are strongly juxtaposed with harmony created by repetition of cold colours within rough wave

  
  

  Reasoning: As Hokusai’s use of Prussian blue reveals his readiness to use European ideas, despite ban on travel due to diplomatic and trade relations

  
  

  Effect: Specific cool colours would create feelings of helplessness & intensify powerful sense of movement revealed by wave
• Give conclusion + CT

  • 2D landscape is deceptively simple as mesmerizing, manipulated perspective, display wave great threat to serene landscape, negative image of power of nature over man & other elements.
  • Supported by Burke “tranquillity is tinged with terror”.
  • But wave could pose no imminent danger since shape of Mount Fuji repeated in ripple of wave at FG.
  • Sublime nature beauty, all elements intertwined, harmonious atmosphere.
  • Thus, popularity grown as one of most iconic Japanese works, revolutionising Ukiyo-e style and influencing Impressionist movement 19th century.

   
• Remember

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