冨嶽三十六景　東都駿台|Surugadai in Edo (Tōto Sundai), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Art Historical Context

In Katsushika Hokusai's masterful woodblock print *Surugadai in Edo (Tōto Sundai)* from the series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji* (. 1830–32), the iconic mountain dominates the horizon, viewed from the bustling Surugadai hill in Edo (modern Tokyo). Created during Japan's Edo period (16151868), this ukiyo-e print captures everyday urban life—rooftops of houses, clusters of men, and swaying trees—blending human activity with nature's grandeur. Hokusai, a towering figure in Japanese art, revolutionized landscape printing with this series, which expanded beyond its titular 36 views to 46 prints, making Mount Fuji a symbol of enduring beauty and spiritual significance. The medium of ink and color on paper exemplifies nishiki-e, or "brocade pictures," a technique using multiple woodblocks for vibrant, layered hues like the vivid Prussian blue skies that became Hokusai's signature. Measuring just 9¾ x 14¾ inches, these affordable prints democratized art, appealing to merchants and commoners alike. This work highlights Hokusai's innovative use of perspective and composition, drawing the eye from foreground details to Fuji's majestic peak, influencing global artists like Van Gogh and Whistler. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department from the Henry L. Phillips Collection, *Surugadai in Edo* invites visitors to ponder Edo's vibrant energy against nature's timeless presence—a testament to Hokusai's genius in celebrating Japan's cultural harmony.

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...