Who painted 冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass?

冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 1804.

Where can I see 冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass?

冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass?

冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass

Katsushika Hokusai , 1804

冨嶽三十六景甲州犬目峠|Fuji from Inume (?) Pass is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP3146
Credit line: Bequest of Ellis G. Seymour, 1949

About this work

Overview

The composition emphasizes scale and spatial depth through the contrast between the towering peak and the diminutive human figures below.

This woodblock print is part of Katsushika Hokusai’s series depicting Mount Fuji from various locations and seasons. Created around 1804, it presents a panoramic view of the mountain from a high mountain pass in Kai Province. The composition emphasizes scale and spatial depth through the contrast between the towering peak and the diminutive human figures below. Ink and color on paper reflect the technical precision typical of ukiyo-e production during the Edo period.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures travelers moving along a winding path beneath Mount Fuji, suggesting pilgrimage or seasonal travel. The mountain, dominant and serene, functions as a constant presence amid human transience. Its snow-capped summit and the quiet movement of figures evoke a contemplative relationship between nature and human activity, common in Japanese landscape traditions that honor natural forms as enduring symbols.

Technique & Style

Hokusai employed flat planes of color and simplified contours to define the mountain’s form, enhancing its monumental presence. The use of bold outlines and minimal shading, along with restrained palette of pale blue, dark green, and earth tones, creates a stylized yet harmonious composition. The road and figures are rendered with fine lines, their small scale reinforcing the mountain’s grandeur through deliberate proportion.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Hokusai’s early experimentation with landscape themes, predating his more famous Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series. It entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art through documented acquisitions in the 20th century, likely from a private Japanese or Western collector. Its survival reflects the growing international interest in Edo-period prints during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Context

Produced during a period of rising interest in regional travel and nature appreciation in Edo Japan, this print aligns with broader cultural trends that celebrated pilgrimage routes and scenic viewpoints. While not part of the later, widely circulated Fuji series, it demonstrates Hokusai’s evolving approach to landscape, blending topographical observation with symbolic representation rooted in Buddhist and Shinto aesthetics.

Legacy

Though less known than Hokusai’s later prints, this work reveals his early mastery of compositional balance and atmospheric perspective. It influenced later artists in both Japan and the West who sought to convey natural grandeur through simplified forms. Its presence in major collections underscores its role as a foundational piece in the development of Japanese landscape printmaking.