冨嶽三十六景　信州諏訪湖|Lake Suwa in Shinano Province (Shinshū Suwako), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus's *Lake Suwa in Shinano Province (Shinshūwako)*, from his groundbreaking series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji* (ca. 1830–32), captures the majestic mountain looming distantly over the serene waters of Lake Suwa in Shinano (modern Nagano). Created during Japan's Edo period (16151868), this wood print exemplifies ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that brought vibrant landscapes to everyday viewers. Hokusai, a master innovator at age 70, revolutionized the genre by emphasizing Mount Fuji as a constant, almost spiritual presence amid everyday scenes of houses, trees, boats, and shimmering lakes. The print's modest size—about 10 by 15 inches—belies its technical brilliance: layered ink and color on paper achieved through precise woodblock carving and printing. Hokusai's bold use of Prussian blue skies and dynamic compositions created unprecedented depth and atmosphere, influencing global artists like Van Gogh and Monet. Part of the H.O. Havemeyer Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reflects the era's fascination with nature's beauty and Fuji's sacred status in Japanese culture, inviting viewers to ponder the harmony between human life and the eternal peak.

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...