The Floating World

Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Under the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa

深川万年橋下 · Fukagawa Mannenbashi shita

Katsushika Hokusai · c. 1830–32

What it is

The high arch of the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa spans the sheet, people cross it and boats pass beneath, and a small Fuji sits under the curve.

Why it matters

Hokusai uses the bridge’s arch as a frame, and the series returns again and again to such frames.

What to notice

The underside of the bridge is drawn in steep perspective, and the mountain fits exactly beneath it.

A bridge built for crossing becomes a frame for the view.

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 · JP2983

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.