冨嶽三十六景　尾州不二見原|Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishū Fujimigahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Art Historical Context

In Katsushika Hokusai's *Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishū Fujimigahara)*, from his groundbreaking series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji* (ca. 1830–32), the majestic peak dominates the horizon, viewed from a windswept plain in Owari Province (modern Aichi Prefecture). This woodblock print, rendered in vivid ink and color on paper, captures travelers and workers amid tall trees, their figures dwarfed by nature's grandeur. Hokusai, a master of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), revolutionized Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1615–1868) with this series, producing dynamic compositions that elevated Mount Fuji—a sacred symbol of Japan—to the status of a recurring protagonist. The print's innovative use of Prussian blue pigment, imported from Europe, allowed for bold, atmospheric skies and deep perspectives, showcasing Hokusai's mastery of the collaborative woodblock process: from his detailed sketches to carvers and printers. Measuring just 10 x 15 inches, these affordable ōban-format prints brought art to everyday viewers, blending realism with poetic exaggeration. Amid daily labor—men at work under the mountain's watchful gaze—Hokusai evokes the harmony of human endeavor and divine landscape. This work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Henry L. Phillips Collection highlights Hokusai's global influence, inspiring later Western artists like Monet and Van Gogh. A testament to Edo Japan's vibrant print culture, it invites us to ponder Fuji's enduring allure across seasons and provinces.

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...