Katsushika Hokusai: The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Under the Wave off Kanagawa)

The Great Wave off Kanagawa Created around 1832, this iconic woodblock print stands as the most recognizable image of Japan's Edo period and a masterpiece of ukiyo-e art. Hokusai captured a dramatic moment where a towering wave threatens boats off the Kanagawa coast, with the distant Mount Fuji rendered impossibly small—a bold compositional choice that challenged traditional perspectives and captivated European artists decades later. The print's innovative use of Prussian blue pigment, precise linear perspective, and dynamic movement revolutionized Japanese printmaking and profoundly influenced Western Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements.