Who painted Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province?

Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 1804.

Where can I see Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province?

Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province?

Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province

Katsushika Hokusai , 1804

Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province is a print by the Romanticist artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1804 by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, this woodblock print titled “Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province” is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The composition centers on a solitary, leaf‑less tree with Mount Fuji rising in the distant background, while three laborers attend to modest tasks in the foreground.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts everyday rural activity: a farmer carries a bundle of sticks, another bends over the ground, and a third holds a pole, suggesting agricultural work in a dry, open landscape. The towering, bare tree and the distant, snow‑capped Fuji create a quiet contrast between human labor and the enduring natural landmark, evoking a sense of calm perseverance.

Technique & Style

Executed as a traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock print, Hokusai employs fine line work to render the tree’s bark and the figures’ gestures, while broader color washes suggest the sky’s clouds and the arid earth. The composition uses a shallow depth of field, with the foreground figures rendered in greater detail than the distant mountain, a hallmark of Hokusian spatial organization.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Hokusai’s mature period, shortly after his famed series on Mount Fuji. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early twentieth century, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Japanese prints holdings, illustrating the artist’s continued influence on Western collectors.

Context

Mount Fuji served as a recurring motif in Edo‑period art, symbolizing both spiritual significance and national identity. By placing ordinary laborers against this iconic backdrop, Hokusai aligns the quotidian with the sublime, reflecting contemporary interest in landscape as a setting for human activity rather than solely as a decorative element.