Nicholas Assi
June 17, 2015
Modern Culture and the Arts
Professor Bomboy
Non-Western Art Critique
While we in the United States rarely come into contact
with examples of Non-Western art, there’s no denying that the artwork of
various non-European cultures can be incredible. One perfect example of this is
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa”. Also known simply as “The Great Wave”, this
piece is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. This
woodblock print was created sometime between 1830 and 1833 during the late Edo
Period, and is considered Hokusai’s most famous creation (“Hokusai, Under the Wave”2014). We
know the print is authentic due to the creators’ signature in the upper-left
corner of the print. This woodblock print was the first print in Hokusai’s
series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fiji”.
A classic example of Japanese landscape
painting, the print depicts a large wave threatening several boats off the
coast of Japan. In the background of the print is Mount Fuji. Monti Fuji is the
largest and highest mountain in Japan, and is considered both sacred, and a
national symbol of the country (“Hokusai,
Under the Wave”2014). Indeed, in Hokusai’s entire series “Thirty-Six
Views of Mount Fiji”, the mountain is depicted in some shape or form, showing
both its influence on the artists’ work and the importance of the mountain to
Japanese society and culture itself. The three boats in the painting where a
Japanese style of boat that back during the time the print was created were
used to transport live fish (“Hokusai,
Under the Wave”2014). Wooden and powered by rowers, the power of the ocean
and the threat of storms and waves must have been considered extremely unnerving
to the sailors and fishermen of the era, and this Woodblock print capture
perfectly the power and ultimate unpredictability of the sea.
“The
Great Wave itself makes use of several examples of elements and design
principles. One perfect example of this Woodblock prints use of art elements is
lines. The wood block print is created in the Ukiyo-e style, a genre of
woodblock printing that uses a bold, well defined, flat line as a defining
feature of the art style. The lines are thin yet solid, easily defining the
boats amongst the waves, separating them so that they are easily seen ( “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010).
The lines also help to show the various waves in the ocean, while a curved line
also helps to show the biggest wave and the namesake of the print, showing off
its power while also giving off a realistic feel to an ocean, a large amount of
waves in the endless void that is the ocean. The lines help to emphasize the
forms of these breakers. The print also makes use of the element of space. The
massive wave takes up a disproportionate amount of space, occupying the entire
left half of the print itself( “The
Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010). The print is asymmetrical, and the eye
is immediately drawn to look at the massive wave, helping it to give off an extremely
powerful aura. There’s even heavy use of color. The sky is painted with a very
gentle hue, helping to give off an aura of calm (“The Great Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika”2012.) This helps to
give the print the design principle of contrast, as this gentle sky contrasts
with dangerous feel of the ocean ( “The
Great Wave off Kanagawa” 2010). The dark blue in the print helps to give
the ocean a dangerous, unpredictable feeling. The ocean itself looks far from calm,
as if on the breaking point of a storm, with the power being released in the
form of the massive wave. We can even see the design principle of Proportion.
In the back, in the far distance, is Mount Fuji itself. The mountain itself
seems calm and quiet, but is much smaller than the wave itself, or even the
boats. This helps to emphasize that the mountain is in the background, far away
from the immediate vicinity of the Wave. The mountain is shown to be very
distant, and the gentle white on its peak is the snow. Indeed, this goes back
to the principle of contrast, as the mountain itself seems quiet and serene,
free of the danger and trouble the ocean seems to give. This helps emphasize
the spiritual significance of the mountain, of the gentle power and influence
it had on the overall Japanese culture. It is after all, the namesake of the
series.
To
me the Woodblock print itself give me several different feelings, often
depending on where I look and focus on within the print. The waves give me a
feeling of trepidation. When a storm in the ocean begins, the area gets dark
and you can see the water become more and more agitated, more restless, almost
more alive with energy. The waves become bigger and bigger, until they reach
the point of dangerous. This Woodblock print captures that feeling perfectly.
You can see the various waves looking bigger and more aggressive than usual,
with the final breaking point being the largest wave itself, moments from overturning
a boat. Yet this contrasts with the feeling of Mount Fuji (“The Great Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika”2012.).
You can see it in the background, the far distance, looking peaceful and safe.
To me this emphasizes the safety of land, that on shore I would be safe from
the unpredictability of the sea, never in danger of drowning or being overtaken
by a massive wave. Yet to the people in the boats, getting to the land would
seem impossible, that they are too far away and the wave and danger is here and
now. So the feeling of hope I get from the distant land and mountain is matched
by a feeling of hopelessness from the ocean and the close, massive wave. I even
get a feeling of fear, as the people in the boats are hunched over, as those desperately
trying to bunker down into the boat for safety, as though to avoid being tossed
overboard. The people are also unsmiling. To me this shows the gravity and
seriousness of their situation. However, to me the Woodblock print itself is
very beautiful, and I can see why it is so famous and considered one of the
greatest forms of Japanese art ever created. Its use of colors, lines, space,
contrast, and proportion all fit together so well that I can’t help but be
impressed by the technique and expertise of Hokusai.
“The
Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Hokusai(1830-1833 during the Edo period.)
Works
Cited
“The Great
Wave Off Kanagawa” By Katsushika Hokusai, or the Pathos of things in Japanese
Aesthetics” louviq.wordpress.com Web.
Jan 31, 2012. June 17, 2015. https://louviq.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/critique-of-the-great-wave-off-kanagawa-by-katsushika-hokusai/
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” honolulumuseum.org Web. September 24, 2010. June 17, 2015 http://honolulumuseum.org/art/8953-the-great-wave-off-kanagawaa_z
“Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great
Wave)” khanacademy.org Web. October
20, 2014. June 17, 2015 https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/ap-art-history/south-east-southeast-asia/a/hokusai-under-the-wave-off-kanagawa-the-great-wave
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