1831
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
冨嶽三十六景 五百らかん寺さざゐどう|Sazai Hall at the Temple of the Five Hundred Arhats (Gohyaku Rakanji Sazaidō), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) is a 1831 ink by Katsushika Hokusai, a Japonisme work, depicting Mountain, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a wooden balcony overlooking a calm river and distant hills. A group of people—some standing, some sitting—wear loose robes and hats, chatting or resting. In the far background, a snow-capped mountain looms over small houses and trees. The colors are soft and flat, with blues, greens, and earthy browns dominating. Notice how the artist uses simple lines and blocks of color to create depth, almost like a stage set. The mountain in the distance is the real star, even though it’s small. Next, look up mountain in Japanese art traditions to see how often it shows up.
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
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