Artwork

「富嶽三十六景凱風快晴」|South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

「富嶽三十六景凱風快晴」|South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, 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

Created around 1831, this woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai forms part of his celebrated series Thirty‑six Views of Mount Fuji. Executed with ink and color on paper, the work is presently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It depicts Mount Fuji under a clear sky, rendered in a striking red‑brown hue that dominates the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents Mount Fuji rising from a flat plain, its summit bathed in a warm, almost luminous color. Below the peak a dark green forest spreads outward, while the sky is filled with fluffy white clouds against a deep blue backdrop. The tranquil atmosphere suggests a moment of calm clarity, emphasizing the mountain’s iconic presence in the Japanese landscape.

Technique & Style

Hokusai employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, using bold, simplified shapes and a limited palette to achieve strong visual contrast. The vivid red‑brown of the mountain is achieved through layered pigments, while the crisp lines of the clouds and forest demonstrate the artist’s control of carving and printing processes.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the late Edo period, a time when Hokuska’s views of Fuji were widely circulated. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early twentieth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings.