Artwork

冨嶽三十六景相州七里浜|Shichirigahama in Sagami Province (Sōshū Shichirigahama), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

冨嶽三十六景相州七里浜|Shichirigahama in Sagami Province (Sōshū Shichirigahama), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Printed in ink and color on paper, it reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of capturing everyday landscapes through mass-produced imagery.

Created around 1831, this woodblock print is part of Katsushika Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. It depicts a coastal scene in Sagami Province, now part of modern Kanagawa Prefecture. The composition balances natural elements—sea, shore, and distant peak—with minimal human presence. Printed in ink and color on paper, it reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of capturing everyday landscapes through mass-produced imagery.

Subject & Meaning

The scene centers on a small island with a solitary pine, its roots clinging to rocky soil as waves gently break nearby. A narrow path winds toward the horizon, guiding the eye to Mount Fuji, faintly visible under a pale sky. The mountain, though distant, dominates the composition as a quiet, enduring presence. The image evokes stillness and solitude, suggesting harmony between nature and the human observer.

Technique & Style

Hokusai employed flat areas of color and clean, controlled lines typical of ukiyo-e printing. Deep blues and greens define the sea and foliage, while the sky is rendered in muted tones to enhance atmospheric depth. Shadows are suggested through subtle cross-hatching, not heavy modeling. The print’s simplicity and deliberate lack of detail create a meditative quality, emphasizing form over realism.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the peak of Hokusai’s career, when the Thirty-six Views series gained widespread popularity. It entered The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through documented acquisitions in the early 20th century. As part of a commercially printed series, original impressions were widely distributed, though surviving examples remain rare due to the fragility of paper and pigment.

Context

This work emerged during Japan’s Edo period, when travel became more accessible and landscape imagery appealed to urban audiences. Mount Fuji, a sacred and symbolic peak, was a recurring subject in art and literature. Hokusai’s series responded to this cultural fascination, blending local geography with spiritual resonance, and helped redefine the role of nature in Japanese visual culture.

Legacy

Hokusai’s approach to landscape, with its flattened perspective and emphasis on natural rhythm, influenced later Western artists, including Impressionists and Art Nouveau designers. The print’s quiet composition and restrained palette continue to be studied for their emotional clarity. As one of the most reproduced images from the series, it remains a touchstone for understanding the aesthetic values of 19th-century Japanese printmaking.