Non-Western Art Critique: The Great Wave off Kanagawa

Kylie Wetzel

Professor Bomboy

HUM 101

Non-Western Art Critique: The Great Wave off Kanagawa

“The Great Wave off Kanagawa”. Also known simply as “The Great Wave”, this piece is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. This woodblock print was created sometime between 1830 and 1833 during the late Edo Period, and is considered Hokusai’s most famous creation (“Hokusai, Under the Wave”2014). We know the print is authentic due to the creators’ signature in the upper-left corner of the print. This woodblock print was the first print in Hokusai’s series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fiji”.

“The Great Wave itself makes use of several examples of elements and design principles. One perfect example of this Woodblock prints use of art elements is lines. The wood block print is created in the Ukiyo-e style, a genre of woodblock printing that uses a bold, well defined, flat line as a defining feature of the art style. The lines are thin yet solid, easily defining the boats amongst the waves, separating them so that they are easily seen ( “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010). The lines also help to show the various waves in the ocean, while a curved line also helps to show the biggest wave and the namesake of the print, showing off its power while also giving off a realistic feel to an ocean, a large amount of waves in the endless void that is the ocean. The lines help to emphasize the forms of these breakers. The print also makes use of the element of space. The massive wave takes up a disproportionate amount of space, occupying the entire left half of the print itself( “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010). 

The print is asymmetrical, and the eye is immediately drawn to look at the massive wave, helping it to give off an extremely powerful aura. There’s even heavy use of color. The sky is painted with a very gentle hue, helping to give off an aura of calm (“The Great Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika”2012.) This helps to give the print the design principle of contrast, as this gentle sky contrasts with dangerous feel of the ocean ( “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010). The dark blue in the print helps to give the ocean a dangerous, unpredictable feeling. The ocean itself looks far from calm, as if on the breaking point of a storm, with the power being released in the form of the massive wave. We can even see the design principle of Proportion. In the back, in the far distance, is Mount Fuji itself. The mountain itself seems calm and quiet, but is much smaller than the wave itself, or even the boats. This helps to emphasize that the mountain is in the background, far away from the immediate vicinity of the Wave. The mountain is shown to be very distant, and the gentle white on its peak is the snow. Indeed, this goes back to the principle of contrast, as the mountain itself seems quiet and serene, free of the danger and trouble the ocean seems to give. This helps emphasize the spiritual significance of the mountain, of the gentle power and influence it had on the overall Japanese culture. It is after all, the namesake of the series.

 A classic example of Japanese landscape painting, the print depicts a large wave threatening several boats off the coast of Japan. In the background of the print is Mount Fuji. Monti Fuji is the largest and highest mountain in Japan, and is considered both sacred, and a national symbol of the country. Indeed, in Hokusai’s entire series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fiji”, the mountain is depicted in some shape or form, showing both its influence on the artists’ work and the importance of the mountain to Japanese society and culture itself. The three boats in the painting where a Japanese style of boat that back during the time the print was created were used to transport live fish. Wooden and powered by rowers, the power of the ocean and the threat of storms and waves must have been considered extremely unnerving to the sailors and fishermen of the era and this Woodblock print capture perfectly the power and ultimate

unpredictability of the sea.

            To me the Woodblock print itself give me several different feelings, often depending on where I look and focus on within the print. The waves give me a feeling of trepidation. When a storm in the ocean begins, the area gets dark and you can see the water become more and more agitated, more restless, almost more alive with energy. The waves become bigger and bigger, until they reach the point of dangerous. This Woodblock print captures that feeling perfectly. You can see the various waves looking bigger and more aggressive than usual, with the final breaking point being the largest wave itself, moments from overturning a boat. Yet this contrasts with the feeling of Mount Fuji (“The Great Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika”2012.). You can see it in the background, the far distance, looking peaceful and safe. To me this emphasizes the safety of land, that on shore I would be safe from the unpredictability of the sea, never in danger of drowning or being overtaken by a massive wave. Yet to the people in the boats, getting to the land would seem impossible, that they are too far away and the wave and danger is here and now. 

So the feeling of hope I get from the distant land and mountain is matched by a feeling of hopelessness from the ocean and the close, massive wave. I even get a feeling of fear, as the people in the boats are hunched over, as those desperately trying to bunker down into the boat for safety, as though to avoid being tossed overboard. The people are also unsmiling. To me this shows the gravity and seriousness of their situation. However, to me the Woodblock print itself is very beautiful, and I can see why it is so famous and considered one of the greatest forms of Japanese art ever created. Its use of colors, lines, space, contrast, and proportion all fit together so well that I can’t help but be impressed by the technique and expertise of Hokusai.

Work Cited

“Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)” khanacademy.org Web. October 20, 2014. June 17, 2015 https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/ap-art-history/south-east-southeast-asia/a/hokusai-under-the-wave-off-kanagawa-the-great-wave

Cartwright, Julyan H.E., and Hisami Nakamura. “What Kind of a Wave Is Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa?” Notes and Records, The Royal Society, 20 June 2009, rsnr.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/63/2/119.