The Floating World

Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Lake Suwa in Shinano Province

信州諏訪湖 · Shinshū Suwako

Katsushika Hokusai · c. 1830–32

What it is

A pair of pines and a small shrine stand on a rocky islet in Lake Suwa, and Fuji rises far across the water.

Why it matters

The series reaches well beyond Edo into the provinces, and Lake Suwa lies in the mountains of Shinano.

What to notice

The pines lean together on their islet, and the lake around them is a flat, still field of colour.

At this distance the mountain is a rumour on the far shore.

The record

Artist
Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760–1849)
Series
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
Date
c. 1830–32
Publisher
Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudō)
Medium
woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Source
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · JP2564

Impression note. The series sold well and was printed in large numbers. The first sheets lean on the newly imported Prussian blue, outlines included; later printings add colours and soften the key block. This is the largest clean open impression of the design the Met holds. Impression variance is real — printings differ in wiping and fading — and choosing the finest openly held impression is the curatorial act.

Public domain; faithfully reproduced.

Bring it home

Printed to order on EMA matte art paper, 200gsm.

From the same series

The road at your moment — Painted Earth’s ukiyo-e style pack.