The wave that makes a mountain look small

Katsushika Hokusai made The Great Wave in Japan around 1830–32. It belongs to a series called Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. The mountain is here, but you might notice the wave long before you find it.

The artist plays with perspective: how a picture shows distance and space. The nearby wave towers over the distant mountain. The print’s rich blues include Prussian blue, a pigment imported into Japan.

Notice how the boats sit beneath the curling water. That placement can make the wave feel more powerful than a wave shown alone. That is one reading, not a fact everyone must agree with. Look for a detail that supports your own idea about how the picture feels.