Artwork
Fuji from Ushibori, Province of Hitachi

Fuji from Ushibori, Province of Hitachi 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 printmaker Katsushika Hokusai, this woodblock print titled “Fuji from Ushibori, Province of Hitachi” is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It depicts a slender boat gliding across tranquil water, set against a distant, mist‑shrouded mountain.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a narrow vessel carrying two figures, emphasizing a quiet moment of travel. Tall grasses line the shore, while a few birds hover nearby, suggesting a serene landscape where human activity blends subtly with nature.
Technique & Style
Hokusai employs restrained line work and delicate gradations of tone to convey depth. The mountain’s summit fades into a pale, flat sky, achieved through soft shading that evokes atmospheric mist, a hallmark of his landscape prints.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the early 19th century, the print has remained in the public domain and was eventually acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.














