Even without fishermen in danger, that's not a "serene" sea

@SouthernArtist77

4 ай бұрын

Nope it certainly isn’t.

@tiararoxeanne1318

3 ай бұрын

People are deceived by the bright colors and the tiny details. It does look serene in a glance. The painter is a genious. I guess the Midsommar horror movie applied similar tactics.

@WestVirginia1959

3 ай бұрын

True but many people find crashing waves very serene but you have to look closer and see that there are people in peril.

@user-wo4ss8zg6o

3 ай бұрын

My thoughts exactly. I liked it for the beautiful depiction of the turbulent sea.

@lanasinapayen3354

3 ай бұрын

Yeah I really didn't understand that part of the video "^^ there is nothing serene about the scene at first glance

“Serene” was never a word I equated with this painting but I always found it beautiful.

@InThisEssayIWill...

4 ай бұрын

Same. We admire the ocean for it's ability to be BOTH powerful and serene. Destructive and life giving. Anyone familiar with the ocean at all would know what type of wave we're viewing here. Dangerous things can still be beautiful, why else would we visit Lions in a zoo.

@TinaP1234

3 ай бұрын

It is a woodblock print not a painting.

@shadowpitched4401

3 ай бұрын

I always thought the depiction was of a storm at sea, even though the sky doesn't reflect this. I never found it to be serene or calm.

@Eat_shit--die_mad

3 ай бұрын

​@@TinaP1234shut up and stop being asinine, block prints are a type of painting

@TinaP1234

3 ай бұрын

@@Eat_shit--die_mad Please read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodblock_printing#:~:text=Woodblock%20printing%20or%20block%20printing,on%20textiles%20and%20later%20paper.

I never saw this as peaceful. I always saw the boatmen in extreme danger.

@ecurewitz

3 ай бұрын

I noticed the scared fishermen when I was very young

@benjaminrobinson3842

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, when I was younger I always thought it looked like a tidal wave, something I later learned is a constant threat to Japan.

@cynthiasavage120

3 ай бұрын

Me too. I have always loved how I feel when I see this painting.

@safarit678

2 ай бұрын

The video poster clearly doesn't understand art

@RockinBoz

2 ай бұрын

Does anyone look at this and see serene?

Even though I’ve never seen this piece with fishing boats included, it has never seemed peaceful and serene to me. Majestic. Powerful. Energetic. Vast.

@myriamickx7969

3 ай бұрын

What do you mean by "never seen this piece with fishing boats included”? The fishing boats were always in the print, they are not a late addition. Maybe you mean that you never noticed them before?

@1daisytiger

3 ай бұрын

@@myriamickx7969 Maybe they have only seen copies of the painting when it's been cropped

@HeidiSue60

3 ай бұрын

@@myriamickx7969 possibly I’ve not noticed them, but more likely I’ve only seen images of the wave alone. I tend to be pretty detail oriented and I think I would notice the boats.

@WateryStar

3 ай бұрын

I had a circular mousepad that had the boats completely cropped out.

@ritagreen6499

3 ай бұрын

@@myriamickx7969 The quality of the print’s reproduction may have cropped out or blurred the fishing boats. Or maybe those who reprinted the print, were able to not have to obtain copyright permission if the boats were missing, & just featured the wave.

I was blessed to see this print in person in Washington DC. I nearly had a heart attack on the sidewalk, panicking in front of a poster that let me know ALL of the Hokusai prints were there, including 3 extras!! My father, witnessing this ordeal brought me back to earth with, "Do you want to go inside?" The prints are SOOOOO TINY and all the little expressions on the faces are so detailed. Thank you for bringing back this memory ❤❤

@fredneecher1746

4 ай бұрын

I saw a similar exhibition years ago at the Royal Academy in London and it inspired me to go and live in Japan. The best art exhibition I have ever seen!

@dlbstl

4 ай бұрын

​@@fredneecher1746 Wow! That was an impactful exhibit! Awesome that you moved to Japan!

@matthewrinehart2367

3 ай бұрын

@pliktl Even with the debates about who owns what, experiences like yours are why museums must continue to exist. What small spark of inspiration will fuel the imagination of the next generation? I'm so glad your parents encouraged your passion.

@ecurewitz

3 ай бұрын

They have one at the Harvard Art museum in Cambridge m but it’s not always on display. They occasionally loan it to the MFA in Boston, where I have seen it twice

@alphagt62

3 ай бұрын

So glad you told me how tiny these prints are, I was imagining them much larger.

Who ever viewed this as serene? Those waves look like they’re covered with hands, ready to claw the humble fishermen to the depths of the sea.

@thornyback

4 ай бұрын

Here in Iceland the word for a breaking wave is literally surf-claw (brimkló) because they'd grab a hold and not let go.

@---Dana----

3 ай бұрын

The waves are very cool fractals.

@jessicaclakley3691

3 ай бұрын

Thank you, those crests look like hooked claws coming to rip those boats apart

@jessicaclakley3691

3 ай бұрын

@@thornybackreally? No way, that is a rad as hell name for a breaking wave! Thanks for sharing

@LouIsFatAndSassy

3 ай бұрын

@@thornybackI love that

I never saw serenity in this painting. The faces of the fishermen, even in their simplicity, just give me vibes of resignation. This is one of my (18-year-old) son's favorite works of art (we have it as a shower curtain and I bought him a lego kit of this print for Christmas).

@donofon1014

4 ай бұрын

Amen ... It just roars threat... never serenity.

@jamesbarrett9466

4 ай бұрын

There was a large Lego version on display at the Seattle Museum of Art recently as part of a Hokusai exhibit recently.

@bluegreenglue6565

4 ай бұрын

@@ac583 "Painting" in this case is a generic term for the print -- take it easy, and please spend less time trying to shame people on a youtbue comment. sheesh! : p

@bluegreenglue6565

4 ай бұрын

@@jamesbarrett9466 That's something I would like to see! I am glad his work is still appreciated today, in any form.

@erikreber3695

4 ай бұрын

The Lego sets available these days are great, in a way better than the ones i had growing up, and make me wish I was 12 again. 😅

I just always assumed it depicted a tsunami -never thought it was peaceful in the moment. Maybe if you look deeper and realize that while the people are going to have a rough time, Mt Fuji simply abides, you can make some statement about how the people of Japan may go through hardship but Japan itself will endure, but that's just digging for meaning.

@pakde8002

3 ай бұрын

I thought it referenced the Japanese legend of the great wave that defeated the Mongol invasion.

@nothanks5846

3 ай бұрын

Not digging at all; the fact that the series of prints focuses on Fuji-san lends credence to your theory.

@PhilLesh69

3 ай бұрын

I was actually taught this by my third grade teacher in hawaii. She was a Japanese Hawaiian and she said it depicted an entire invasion fleet from China being sunk by a series of tsunamis. Whether it was legend or an actual real event was never clear to me though.

@TightyWhiteyTrash

3 ай бұрын

I took Japanese I & Japanese II in high school & my teacher said this *depicted the change happening in Japanese society* but the artist simply did this by not only showing boatmen getting engulfed by the wave, but Mt. Fuji + the city of Edo (modern day Tokyo) as well 🌊

There's a misconception at the beginning of this video: this work of art has never been "calm".

@Jacob-ed1bl

3 ай бұрын

So you know how everyone who sees the painting feels when they see it? 🙄 It's beyond idiotic to claim it's never been seen that way.

@Adrian-vd6ji

3 ай бұрын

maybe shes puffin a big j while viewing it

@emm_arr

2 ай бұрын

@@Jacob-ed1bl So big wave = calm? It's beyond idiotic to claim big waves are calm. Do you see what I did there?!

@Jacob-ed1bl

2 ай бұрын

@emm_arr I see you're a clown that doesn't understand that it's up to the person that makes a claim to provide the evidence and proof to back that claim .🙄. What the hell is a "big wave"?, a famous surf spot 🤣. If you're referring to the Big Bang theory, it has lots of experience to be the leading theory at this time. You're obviously not up to this and will just get hammered 🤣.

@kbye452

Ай бұрын

@@emm_arr you didn't do anything tho. The person you replied never claimed that the waves are calm

I've heard it said that the serenity of the painting is only felt by those who've only learned to read from left to right because the image ends in hope of survival. For those that can/only read right to left the image ends in the wave with the hope seemingly distant and unlikely.

@myriamickx7969

3 ай бұрын

To me, the construction of this painting/print shows that it must be read from right to left. Besides, Hokusai himself titled it "Under the Wave”, which implies the fishermen are all going to die. I think the "serenity” here only exists in the author’s mind. This being said, among the 36 views of Mount Fuji, some are quite serene. Take a look.

@geraldmartin7703

3 ай бұрын

Interesting because Japanese is read right to left.

@alukuhito

2 ай бұрын

@@geraldmartin7703 During Hokusai's time it was right to left, but it's been left to right for well over a century now.

@alukuhito

2 ай бұрын

There's serenity in the balance and in Mt. Fuji, but the sea is obviously not serene.

@myriamickx7969

2 ай бұрын

@alukuhito You're right, it had escaped me.

I've seen this countless times, and never noticed the boats or the sailors. Now that its been pointed out I can't not see them. Thank you. I love these videos

I have never thought of this print as calm and serene...your title made me wonder how it could be MORE disturbing than I thought

@the_dungeoneer

3 ай бұрын

100%! I love this work and was thinking, what have I missed?! Sadly, nothing. Still love the piece though.

Omg! The constant moving because the artist's home became too unliveable. 😂 I love these little nuggets you throw into your videos. This one was fantastic!!

@alphagt62

3 ай бұрын

It seems many a great artist was a bit on the inane side. Moving to avoid cleaning your house is a bit eccentric.

@thecook8964

3 ай бұрын

Well he made it to 90 moving many times, so it worked for him...

@longhairdontcare122

2 ай бұрын

My dude I got some many questions did dude live super spartan spare bare life in like a hut type joint so after like one year dude's out? Or like whole ass house ran into the literal ground?

Your videos always make my day when they are released, and this one was no different! Thank you dearly for making these videos for us all to enjoy for free. It feels like such a luxury. I hope you have a wonderful day and week! :) EDIT: Though I must say that I never ever saw this painting as calm or serene, and I don't think I have met anyone who does (at least that I've talked to about it). The white tip of the waves - to me - looks like they are coming to life and are trying to grab both the fishermen and me as a viewer.

@patmanchester8045

4 ай бұрын

I agree with both your comments. I would like to look closely at copies in fabric etc to find out if the boats are included. I have always thought the wave had claws. but I didn't make the connection. I really do love your posts and wish you could make more.

TIL that the Great Wave has boats in it. I'm so embarrassed I never noticed them before! I love it even more now - it tells such an amazing story. Thank you for sharing the details with us!

@HlootooThunderhammer

Ай бұрын

Same here my guy. Never noticed the people til this video.

You should add a note about "Prussian Blue" at 2:46, at the time when this picture was made in Japan, this color were known as "Berlin Blue" not the term "Prussian Blue" that we used today

@panatypical

4 ай бұрын

Well, Berlin is in Prussia....

@Finn-de9ue

3 ай бұрын

@@panatypical I know, but typically Prussian was later popular, before that Berlin Blue was the name that Japanese know for this color

@thefloprikachurchofficial

3 ай бұрын

Can you list a source? I can't seem to find an article talking about it. Thanks :D

@alukuhito

2 ай бұрын

In Japanese, this colour is called ベレンス　(Berensu).

@dshe8637

2 ай бұрын

Most sources I've read call it Prussian Blue. It came to Japan before 1800

I love this painting. Indeed it gave me comfort in a really challenging time in my life. Because, as you said, I felt like being in one of these boats, thrown up and down, not knowing if I would drown and how to come out of my misery. I just could hang on. What gave me consolation was Mount Fuji. It remembered me, that always there is a still space in us, even in the greatest waves. It may seem very little compared to the actual turbulences. But it's always there and in reality it's huge.

The first time I ever ran into this piece was as cover art on an edition of Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura, so I always associated it as depicting boaters dying in the waves or possibly in a tsunami, since the wave depicted is so much bigger than the mountain. I've never heard anyone call this piece serene before this video. Of course, I also didn't know that this was part of a much longer series focusing on Mt. Fuji. If you're intended to view it through the lens of the mountain, whereby everything from waves to human life is temporary, I can see there's a bit of serenity to be had. It's along the lines of the, "I am the sky and all of life and emotion is just clouds" lesson from therapy. Unfortunately, I was really bad at that exercise, and I'm still focusing on the fishermen just trying to survive.

If you’re in Seattle or close, there is currently a show at the Seattle Art Museum with this print as well as others by the same artist, plus lots of other japanese art both classic and contemporary. I saw it last week, it’s a really amazing show.

@boardcertifiable

2 ай бұрын

So jealous, i live too far away. 😢 glad the exhibition was good for you. :)

The detail in this block print is amazing! If you’ve ever been out in the ocean in a small fishing boat, you can understand the fear of the fishermen. Thank you.

One of my favourite pieces! Thank you so much for your interpretation of it - made my day. 😊

@Art_Deco

4 ай бұрын

Thank you, Dave! Your comments always make my day!

@jmbhjllnfinjk

23 күн бұрын

2nd

I never thought of that piece as serene, but that could just be because I grew up completely landlocked and anything more than a ripple gives me a certain amount of fear.

@emmareiman64

4 ай бұрын

I mean, what's in this painting is practically a Killer Wave that is shown in a similar way as to 'something that could swallow even the greatest of mountains & spare no-one' I'd say your feeling of fear when it comes to the image is more than suitable

@definitivamenteno-malo7919

Ай бұрын

I'm a sea boy, and no, it's not a dry people thing, it's that this is just obvious and the video tried to gaslight the viewers into thinking that there's people assuming serenity.

Ive never gotten "calm and serene" from this piece. Ive always felt like, overwhelming power and the fury of nature. Its an indifferent force, but an overwhelming one. Like "Wanderer above a sea of fog"

Im sorry who calls this wave "calm and serene"?

@isramubashar1227

3 ай бұрын

I assume the older people of Japan would: The waves and winds (tropical storms) saved them from mongol invasions, twice I get what you mean, though- the way the wave towers over the fishing boats, dwarfing them and getting ready to engulf them It’s all very chaotic I *guess* it would also be serene because of the pretty colours Or if you view the wave the same way one would view a mountain- tall and wide and looming over you I think it’s more similar to how nature is in general, which can be really pretty and calm but also really dangerous

@user-vo8ss2bm3p

3 ай бұрын

I'd say that was stated just for plot's sake) To inject a n apparent contradiction (which have never existed))

@keroppib4ptista

3 ай бұрын

I did

@ourglass488

3 ай бұрын

​@@user-vo8ss2bm3p well said

@rachelburke9223

2 ай бұрын

I didn't mean the artwork itself y'all. I love this piece Im talking guys in the boat POV

I'm having lunch at the museum currently showing the Hokusai exhibit, just watched your video,..can't wait to go upstairs and see this iconic work!

I have this as a massive canvas in my living room between 6-7 feet wide, it’s been my favorite piece ever since the first time I learned about it way back in high school and then in art school I did a large project on the Views of Mt. Fuji collection for my painting class, I’ve always loved Japanese prints but these have always been special ❤ I saved up and it was the first piece I bought for my apartment walls 😊 The quote “All I have done before the age of 70 isn’t worth bothering with” has always been one of my favorite quotes from past artists, I just always found that so interesting of a statement. Pretty amazing to imagine how he saw his art over his lifetime

I can't say I ever found this painting peaceful or calming, but I must admit I had never noticed the fishing boats/men. I have never seen a full size print but I have been aware of it for the last 50 years, so I think the moral of this story is to look more closely!

I was curious to learn whether the wood block still exists (no 🙁) and came across a wonderful article that others might enjoy as well: “The Great Wave: Spot the Difference”; it’s on the British Museum’s website. The author has been searching out and documenting existing prints and attempting to put them on a timeline. One interesting factoid is that a woodblock might yield up 8,000 prints. Another is that the affordability of the prints sadly means that people didn’t necessarily take care of them or hang onto them.

@atsukorichards1675

4 ай бұрын

I heard that some wood block prints were used as a wrappings for ceramics when they brought them out of Japan to Europe.

@jaymogrified

4 ай бұрын

@@atsukorichards1675 I could see that; kind of like grabbing whatever newspaper you have lying around to use as packing material, when maybe it has a story that would one day make that particular paper incredibly valuable

@skaweirromeda6787

14 күн бұрын

🌊

I swear your videos are always so amazing. Great Job!

Woo hoo, finally. I was waiting for your next video. I always like your funny, but well researched analisys behind the art. I really missed your videos. You're doing always such a great job

The fact that I didn’t even notice the fishermen at first speaks to the immense presence the wave has over them. One of my favorite paintings (Obviously)

This video certainly makes me appreciate the piece more. Though I never saw it as serene, I also never realized Mt. Fuji was in the back, and how serene *it* is. It does make me contemplate the crashing waves of life, and their ephemeral nature in the grand scheme of things.

I've always been afraid of vast bodies of water, even more so with murky waters or with waves. So whoever thought that this piece is calming or serene, well, kudos to you. 😄 BTW, I have seen this many times everywhere but only now did I notice the boats. Maybe because most ones I've seen are just closely inspired modern copies. I just realized that I'm not very good at looking at art. Maybe that's why I enjoy this channel so much. It shows me things I overlook and explains things about the topic at hand. 😄

🥰 Awesome again!! Thank You so much for all you do; your time and studies and information about these works of art is amazing and inspiring☺ Can't wait to see a notification for a new show every time you upload! Sending much love💖 your way from here on the East Coast in Nova Scotia ,Canada ❤🤍Keep em' coming !!!

@Art_Deco

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for saying this!

So excited to see you put out another video! Thank you!

@Art_Deco

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

I always learn something new with your videos! I just love your analysis of art pieces. "Beautiful chaos" was a great way to sum it up. ❤

this is my favorite old Japanese paintings! I never saw it as peaceful though, I saw it as fierce and mighty.

@alukuhito

2 ай бұрын

It's not a painting though. It's a woodblock print (ukiyo-e). The artist first makes an image, then they (or others) carve parts of the image into wood blocks. The different blocks are dipped into different colours of ink, then pressed onto paper.

This is my favorite KZread channel

@Art_Deco

4 ай бұрын

Thank you, thank you!

@rahemeenkhan2790

4 ай бұрын

​@@Art_Deco people like you are so necessary in a society

I bought a print of this piece because I always loved the striking boldness of the waves. It wasn’t until I hung it on my wall that I really noticed the menace, the clawed waves about to crash onto the desperate sailors below, with the distant hope of safe harbor in the form of Mt. Fuji in the background.

@AirQuotes

3 ай бұрын

Same

@SarahAnnUlloa-vo1iq

2 ай бұрын

The menace of course, was the "west" encroaching like a tsunami. They were afraid of the change.

Brilliant video. This has been among my favorite paintings since I was a child. Hokusai is a master…and that wave is clearly part of a storm. The composition is breathtaking. The waves have always seemed to me to have claws even as a little girl.

I love the way you teach us about the paintings. It's informative and entertaining.

Its not serene, Its full of energy and movement. That's why I love it.

Omg, I just got so excited to see one more video of yours. ❤❤🎉🎉

Thank you for your detailed discussions of paintings. I really enjoy your channel and getting close up views of the famous paintings.

Love your explanation and interpretation. Thank you for your videos.

You never fail to make me love my favorite paintings even more than I already do.

Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into these videos! I absolutely love learning about these paintings! :)

Your videos are so informative and entertaining! I’m always happy to see a new one ❤️

Oh very interesting - I've never noticed the decisive role of mount Fuji in that picture, but now, that you mention it: Of course! That is the actual counterpart to the roaring wave in the foreground - that still and unmoved 'eternal' center of it all. The anchorpoint of the entire composition!

Never found this painting peaceful. Having been on high even angry seas in a small boat it's terrifying I can't imagine how it would be in an open boat. I always felt it was death by angry nature.

I love love love this painting! We have a huge version of it in our house. Had no idea of the history behind it, or that it was part of a whole series. It was so awesome to learn more aboit it, and I'm going to look at it from a whole new perspective. I never saw it as calm, more like energetic and powerful, the might of nature and how little people are in comparison. To know it also refers to Japan and their view towards the rest of the world was fascinating. Thanks for always teaching me something new! Looking forward to the next video!

Hey! I love your videos. I've never noticed these little details and didn't know I could even be interested in art based videos. Thanks for making this so good❤

I’ve never heard anyone describe this painting as calm and serene. More like exciting and cool.

Loved this video! Would you ever consider doing a video of the entire series of Hokusai's views of Fuji?

Love your videos, love your perspective.Thanks for all the giggles, thanks for sharing 🕊️

Wonderful content! Keep it coming!

I've never seen serenity in this painting. The Old Man of the Sea is looming above them about to smash down on the helpless fragile humans just trying to survive. I know it under the title "The Trough of the Deep Sea Wave".

I never knew any of that story/history. Thanks for the enlightenment

Thank you. Love your voice and work. ❤

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this channel. I am grateful for your efforts and the work you put into it. I know nothing about artwork and this channel has been inspirational

Great analysis. Frankly though, I don't see how anyone would view this painting as calming. Waves raging, raising higher than the view of (clearly) Fuji Mountain, swallowing boats with people visible in them, what's calming about that?

I’m terrified of the ocean, so this has always been an image about fear for me. And yet I’ve never noticed the fisherman.

Someone once said that because the negative space creates the opposite wave (look at it upside down), it resembles a balanced, maybe serene, Yin & Yang. So the image is both violent and serene at the same time, which I think is one explanation for its allure. Excellent video!

This was a great video. I never knew the history of this painting. Thank you for educating me about it.

Love this painting! I have got a print of it in my living room.

Bravo, thank you for showing the REAL paint♥

Very well done. I really enjoyed this❤

Fav painting!!! I used the style of the waves and his other mt Fuji paintings to inspire my own version but of an erupting volcano 😍 Your vids are so great I’m always so excited to watch!

I think the fact that this picture became ubiquitous is why most of us never have really looked at it! I never thought before about how it makes me feel! I would love to have a chance to look at the whole series. Is it in a book?

@nerdnam

3 ай бұрын

All of it is in Wikipedia.

I love that he just moved house every time his place got too messy🤣🤭

Brilliant!!... love the print and this video!!! 😊 thanks!!

Who ever thought that was a serene scene ? Thank you all the same for sharing your knowledge about art, always a pleasure 🙏

I never thought it was serine. That is a scary bunch of waves

I have always been intrigued by this painting because it was so....different. i really liked the way Katsushika Hokusai had used the blue and the tiny details. thanks to you i have a much better understanding of this piece! thank you, i'd love to see more soon!🌊🌊🌊

There is absolutely nothing calm and serene about this image. For the life of me I cannot see how anyone could possibly see this painting as calm and serene.

I love you! I love you for the beautiful awareness you bring in. You sure are a bright light

I have a copy of this hanging in my hallway. I've always loved it, because of the color. I never noticed the men in the boats. I never noticed Mt. Fuji. I never noticed the claws of foam until I saw it up close during this video. To be fair, I am very near sighted and don't wear my glasses around the house. I will never be able to look at this picture without seeing every detail and analyzing the ideas you have put forth. I always get something out of your videos!

everyone is concentrating on how the word “serene” was said in association with the work, but i’m more shaken by ‘The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife’ which i had never seen before and i kind of envy my younger self of about 10 minutes ago for living in blissful ignorance😭

@FrisbeeGorbeh

3 ай бұрын

Yep. When we saw that my husband looked in horror and said "wait, it's the same guy??" Guess he saw it before but never knew they had the same artist. I think his worldview shattered lol. Me, I had never seen it and wish to bleach that out 😂

Now I really want a print of this painting! Great video!!

omg i missed ur videos !!! thank u for this hehe

i love that van gogh was inspired by the Great Wave , it makes a lot of sense to me

Love from Jamaica ❤

@t.j.payeur5331

4 ай бұрын

Greetings from Maine..love your island...

I've never thought this painting is serene. It's flipping scary.

Thank you for your channel. I love vibing with others on some of my favorite pieces like this one

The Hakusai block print is NOT supposed to be "peaceful." It's a massive Tsunami!

I always found it oddly soothing to look at. There's something about the colors that relaxes my soul...I never noticed the fishermen.

I now appreciate that piece much more than before. Thank you for another excellent video 🙏

I’m always so pleased when I see a new video from you ❤

@Trevorjennings35

3 ай бұрын

Hello Cilla, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

I like the complexity of this seemly simple composition. At first, the serenity of nature, then the panic of the fishermen, the immovable mountain, and what's happening from the wave's point of view. "I am merely water, but I am strong enough, tall, majestic and able to roll over everything in my path." (I kept a small copy of it my cubicle at work for many years).

Not a serene calming moment in this one of the 36. Basically,one can tragically assume these fishermen are doomed. And there in the distance,is Fuji. Is he looking on with empathy at this tragedy? Is he looking on with indifference to the tribulations of mortal men? Or is Fuji just there,eternal,as we humans come and go,in the blink of an eye compared to the eternal mountain? The claw like crest of the wave,it is like a tiger,it is aiming at the doomed boat,and also frames,intentionally,Fuji,as if Hokusai is asking the viewer for their thoughts,their interpretation of this event unfolding. The 36 views is a series showcasing Fuji watching us. Whether he is weeping,smiling laughing,or ignoring,it is an adress to the permanency of mountain versus mortality,and commands sublime appreciation for both.

I love hearing you talk about art. It's soothing and you hang on to every word. I wish we could be friends. But since that's impossible I'll be your subscriber.

Thank you for your interesting, introspective & 'mind opening' perspective.

@Trevorjennings35

3 ай бұрын

Hello Glynis, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

This piece has never been serene. It is interesting because of it's visual interest/tension between Mt. Fuji's deceptive serenity and the violence of the the waves and the tension of the fishermen. I don't think many people see this as serene, maybe just beautiful if you're not looking at it thoughtfully.

Even without the men, it seems powerful and aggressive, rather than peaceful to me, and always has-

Delightfully timely, since I’m working on a quilt interpretation of this right now!

So happy to see your video pop up 😊

My students once made a reproduction of this piece on a big wall, using plastic, to spread awareness about plastic consumption, sea pollution, and what we can do about it. It was amazing, we sent everything to a recycling plant later. I looooove this print.

Cool video, but I have to be a party pooper: 4:51 You wrote "Kanazawa", not "Kanagawa". Ukiyo-e's "u" is pronounced "oo", as in "boot", not "you". Also, I never thought of this as a serene scene. Massive waves obviously very dangerous for the people in the boats.

You win the award for most soothing voice.

Excellent! I do believe I have seen this painting somewhere! Thank you for the story behind the art!