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Fuji in Clear Weather (from the series Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji), early 1830s
Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760 - 1849)
color woodblock print
Bequest of Edward L. Whittemore, 1930.189
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Fuji in Clear Weather
Hokusai designed the print series, Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji , in 1829/1830 at the age of 68. It is represents the height of the landscape tradition in Japanese prints. The sacred Mt. Fuji was a dormant volcano that was a landmark for travelers as its cone-shaped form could be seen from a distance. Travel maps often identified the places where one could stand to view the mountain as well as its actual geographical location. It was so popular during 18th and 19th century Japan that it was featured in shell and board games. Hokusai capitalized on this mountain-mania in the design of his famous series.
This print, sometimes called “The Red Fuji” illustrates the majesty of the mountain and the brilliance of Japanese design with the placement of the cone-shaped form to create an asymmetrical composition. During printing of the red color, the grain of the cherry wood block was impressed into the design.
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The Courtesan Takigawa of the Ogiya
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