Now that I know about the different ways to read it, I prefer the Japanese way. I have a poster of it hanging in my hallway. I will never look at it the same without having my heart skip a beat. I used to think of it as just a beautiful painting. Now I feel it is heading to engulf me as I sit in the boat, knowing I am about to drown!
Thank you for sharing this perspective. It made me look at The Great Wave again with fresh eyes. 😊
For me, the wave was the first thing that caught my eye. As a modern Japanese person, I've grown up reading both right to left and left to right, so now I'm wondering how people in the Edo period first experienced this print.
Thank you for your comment. And you make a great point: compared with Hokusai's day, so much more Japanese is being read from left to right now (digital especially). I'm sure it must affect how people read images like these.
Block printing is something really cool - introducing Year 4 children to the process using this amazing picture was so much fun. One young boy suggested that the boat should be on top of the wave. Anyway, he has his own children now, and I am friends with his mum. She texted me that he has achieved his dream. He has his powerboat license. 🤗💦
I taught him to swim as well. He was so funny. At the end of swimming lessons I would let them jump in. He jumped in and always shouted Haikuzee (pronunciation a bit awry)🤗💦
Thank you - I've always felt people got this artwork wrong and couldn't put my finger on it, although I did coin the term "Hokusai Fridge Magnet" to describe the way that a famous image becomes so abused - appearing on fridge magnets, tea towels, bags, scarfs, ties etc - that we fail to look at it carefully, curiously or with fresh eyes any more - see also the Mona Lisa.
I don't consider it abuse to be on towels & magnets. (But then that's obvious since my Kindle cover is The Great Wave by Hokusai.) My little nephews first saw it that way & asked about it & I was able to bring up a copy of the woodblock for their appreciation online. Would they have been intrigued if it wasn't commercialized? Plus, I have some fridge magnets as souvenirs from a woodblock show my husband and I attended at The Institute of Art. When I look at them I remember the beautiful woodblock prints we were able to see in person there! And I also bought an art book of the collection as well.
This is a fine insight. We should have both perspectives in mind to fully appreciated the power of this print.
Now that I know about the different ways to read it, I prefer the Japanese way. I have a poster of it hanging in my hallway. I will never look at it the same without having my heart skip a beat. I used to think of it as just a beautiful painting. Now I feel it is heading to engulf me as I sit in the boat, knowing I am about to drown!
Lovely to hear this!
Thank you for sharing this perspective. It made me look at The Great Wave again with fresh eyes. 😊
For me, the wave was the first thing that caught my eye. As a modern Japanese person, I've grown up reading both right to left and left to right, so now I'm wondering how people in the Edo period first experienced this print.
Thank you for your comment. And you make a great point: compared with Hokusai's day, so much more Japanese is being read from left to right now (digital especially). I'm sure it must affect how people read images like these.
I am in love with this text. I am in love with your Substack. Thank you.
Thanks for reading! Much appreciated.
A wonderful little gem. Thank you.
Block printing is something really cool - introducing Year 4 children to the process using this amazing picture was so much fun. One young boy suggested that the boat should be on top of the wave. Anyway, he has his own children now, and I am friends with his mum. She texted me that he has achieved his dream. He has his powerboat license. 🤗💦
What a great exercise to do with children! And how lovely that Hokusai may have helped inspire him on the waves... ❤️
I taught him to swim as well. He was so funny. At the end of swimming lessons I would let them jump in. He jumped in and always shouted Haikuzee (pronunciation a bit awry)🤗💦
Oh that's so sweet!
Thank you - I've always felt people got this artwork wrong and couldn't put my finger on it, although I did coin the term "Hokusai Fridge Magnet" to describe the way that a famous image becomes so abused - appearing on fridge magnets, tea towels, bags, scarfs, ties etc - that we fail to look at it carefully, curiously or with fresh eyes any more - see also the Mona Lisa.
I don't consider it abuse to be on towels & magnets. (But then that's obvious since my Kindle cover is The Great Wave by Hokusai.) My little nephews first saw it that way & asked about it & I was able to bring up a copy of the woodblock for their appreciation online. Would they have been intrigued if it wasn't commercialized? Plus, I have some fridge magnets as souvenirs from a woodblock show my husband and I attended at The Institute of Art. When I look at them I remember the beautiful woodblock prints we were able to see in person there! And I also bought an art book of the collection as well.
That’s true - accessibility matters, doesn’t it.
That's a useful phrase!
Really interesting perspective...I would love to read more!
Thank you, I think I'll try to revisit Hokusai and other artists at some point.