冨嶽三十六景　凱風快晴|South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokusai's *South Wind, Clear Sky* (also known as *Red Fuji*), from his groundbreaking series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji*, captures the majestic volcano in a moment of radiant dawn. Created around 1830–32 during Japan's Edo period, this woodblock print showcases Mount Fuji bathed in bold reds and oranges against a clear blue sky, with foreground trees swaying in the breeze. Hokusai, a master of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), revolutionized printmaking at age 70, producing over 30,000 works in his lifetime. Printed as an *oban nishiki-e*—a large-format, multi-colored "brocade picture" using intricate woodblocks layered with ink and pigments on paper—this piece exemplifies the technical brilliance of Edo-era artisans. The vibrant palette and dynamic composition reflect Hokusai's innovative use of perspective, influenced by Western art, making Fuji appear both intimate and monumental. Culturally, Mount Fuji symbolized spiritual purity and national pride in Japan. *Red Fuji* became one of Hokusai's most iconic images, inspiring global artists like Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Howard Mansfield Collection, it invites visitors to ponder nature's enduring allure.

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...