Artwork

琉球八景龍洞松濤|Pines and Waves at Ryūtō (Ryūtō shōtō), from the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei)

琉球八景龍洞松濤|Pines and Waves at Ryūtō (Ryūtō shōtō), from the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As one of Hokusai’s Eight Views of the Ryukyu Islands, the work follows the meisho‑e tradition of depicting famous places and their seasonal character.

The print shows Ryūtō, a celebrated site in the Ryukyu Islands, rendered with pine trees framing waves that break against a snow‑covered island. As one of Hokusai’s Eight Views of the Ryukyu Islands, the work follows the meisho‑e tradition of depicting famous places and their seasonal character. The composition combines the enduring pine, the dynamic sea, and the quiet snow to convey the overall distinctive natural scenery of the locale.

Technique & Style

The work is a polychrome woodblock print (nishiki-e) executed in ink and color on paper support. As a ukiyo-e landscape belonging to the meisho-e sub‑genre, it was produced by carving separate blocks for each hue and printing them in precise register, a technique characteristic of Hokusai’s later output. The composition presents an island vista with snow, rendered in the flattened perspective and decorative patterning typical of Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands.

Its formal qualities emphasize rhythmic line work and subtle gradations of tone within the limited palette of the medium.

History & Provenance

Pines and Waves at Ryūtō is a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai dated to 1832, produced during the Edo period. The work is part of the series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands (Ryūkyū hakkei), a thematic set of prints depicting scenic locales in the Ryūkyū Islands.

The print is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a woodblock print with ink and color on paper.

The woodblock print Pines and Waves at Ryūtō is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created by Katsushika Hokusai in 1832, the work is classified as a landscape within the ukiyo-e tradition. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for this piece, nor do they document any exhibition history or loan records for the artwork.

Consequently, no further details regarding its display history or catalog identifiers can be reported based on the available documentation.

Overview

Pines and Waves at Ryūtō is a woodblock print from Katsushika Hokusai's series Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands, created circa 1832. The landscape depicts a dramatic scene of wind-bent black pines, crashing white waves against dark rocks, and a moonlit stormy sky.

Context

Part of a broader tradition of Japanese landscape prints, Pines and Waves at Ryūtō stands out for its unique wave depiction, showcasing Hokusai's continued innovation in his later years.

Legacy

This print contributes to Hokusai's legacy as a master of ukiyo-e, influencing subsequent generations with its bold, expressive interpretation of natural themes.