Hokusai Paintings

Katsushika Hokusai is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese ukiyo painters of all time.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa

The great wave is probably Hokusai's greatest and most famous work. The image is of two boats, full of Japanese sailors, coming up against the namesake of the print, the Great Wave. The wave looks as if it will swallow the boats whole, and that the boat men are sure to be devoured in the wave. Although it is such a strong image, it is simplistically beautiful, with curling blue waves and white frothy tips, which menacingly curl down into points, like claws ready to scoop the sailors out of the sea.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa has been described as "possibly the most reproduced image in the history of all art", as well as being a contender for the "most famous artwork in Japanese history".