Fuji in a Window (Sôchû no Fuji) – 100 Views of Mount Fuji – Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) – Japan – Edo Periode (1600-1868)

Japanese Print "Fuji in a Window (Sôchû no Fuji): Detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 2, Edo period, 1835 (Tempô 6)" by Katsushika HokusaiWoodblock print (sumizuri-e, black ink on paper), This elegant monochrome woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is from his celebrated illustrated book series One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (富嶽百景, Fugaku Hyakkei).Seated at his desk an old man stretches his arms up to form an arch which relates to the shape of Fuji seen in the background. Western viewers (beginning with the English novelist, Charles Dickens) have long misinterpreted this gesture as representing joy or ecstasy. In fact, the old man is yawning. Probably a poet, he has just completed his day's work, This is seen by the row of returning geese, which is a conventional symbol for the end of the day. At rest he will turn to his pipe, which lies to his side. Here Hokusai has brilliantly captured a moment in time and forever allied man to his natural surroundings.Unlike his more colorful ukiyo-e landscapes, this series reflects a refined, Zen-like simplicity. The three-volume work is considered one of the greatest achievements in Japanese illustrated books, admired for... lees verder bij Catawiki