Artwork
冨嶽三十六景 尾州不二見原|Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishū Fujimigahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 尾州不二見原|Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishū Fujimigahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Fujimigahara in Owari Province is a woodblock print from Katsushika Hokusai's series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, dating to circa 1831. The work is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a surreal scene featuring a gigantic wheel with wooden spokes traversing a flat, yellow field. Two diminutive figures inside the wheel engage in quiet activity, set against a serene backdrop of a lone tree, a distant hill, and a faint, looming mountain under a pale sky. The composition plays with scale, presenting the wheel as an integral, realistic element within the landscape.
Technique & Style
Characterized by soft color blending and subtle horizon integration, the print showcases Hokusai's mastery of suggesting depth and tranquility. The use of gentle, graded tones evokes a dreamlike atmosphere, while the detailed rendering of the wheel and figures contrasts with the more ethereal treatment of the background.
History & Provenance
Created around 1831, this woodblock print is one of thirty-six in Hokusai's renowned series. It is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, though specific acquisition details are not provided here.
Context
Part of a larger series focused on Mount Fuji, this piece reflects Hokusai's interest in capturing the mountain's presence in various Japanese landscapes, often blending the natural with human elements in innovative ways.
Legacy
As part of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Fujimigahara in Owari Province contributes to the series' enduring influence on Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing and its global impact on art, particularly in inspiring later European and American artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
- 冨嶽三十六景 尾州不二見原|Fujimigahara in Owari Province (Bishū Fujimigahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 甲州石班沢|Kajikazawa in Kai Province (Kōshū Kajikazawa), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 武州玉川|Fuji—The Tama River, Musashi Province, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 遠江山中|In the Mountains of Tōtomi Province (Tōtomi sanchū), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 甲州石班沢|Kajikazawa in Kai Province (Kōshū Kajikazawa), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 遠江山中|In the Mountains of Tōtomi Province (Tōtomi sanchū), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 相州仲原|Nakahara in Sagami Province (Sōshū Nakahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 相州仲原|Nakahara in Sagami Province (Sōshū Nakahara), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 武州玉川|Tama River in Musashi Province (Bushū Tamagawa), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)