Why is Katsushika Hokusai's ukiyo-e series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' so significant in art history?

Okay, no problem. Let's talk about this topic, and I'll try to keep it simple and easy to understand.

Talking About Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji": Why Is It So Incredible in Art History?

When Hokusai's name comes up, the first image that probably pops into your head is that giant wave towering over the boats while Mount Fuji stands serenely in the distance – The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

This print is so famous that many people think "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" is just this single image. But actually, it's a series encompassing 46 prints (originally planned for 36, but 10 extra were added due to its overwhelming popularity). The series holds such an exalted position in art history not just because of this one print. Simply put, it made a huge impact on three distinct levels:

1. In Japan, It Was a "Game-Changer" in Its Own Right

In Hokusai's time, what was the main subject of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints? Mostly popular kabuki actors, beautiful women (bijin-ga), sumo wrestlers – the "celebrities" and "influencers" of the day. Landscape imagery was usually just background for figures, not the main focus.

But Hokusai played a different game. He did some truly revolutionary things:

The Star Changed! From Beauties and Geisha to Grand Landscapes Thirty-Six Views decisively placed "landscape" – and especially Mount Fuji – front and center (C-Spot). He used an entire series to depict the same mountain from various angles, seasons, weather conditions, and human perspectives. This was extremely innovative for its time, effectively launching the golden age of Ukiyo-e landscape prints (meisho-e).
Too Many "Genius Moves" in Composition, Utterly Daring Look at The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The claw-like arcs formed by the spray perfectly frame Mount Fuji in the distance; the contrast between motion and stillness is masterful. Then there's South Wind, Clear Sky (also known as "Red Fuji"), where the imposing presence of Fuji under the morning sun is captured with minimalist color blocks and lines. Throughout the series, Mount Fuji alternates roles: sometimes it's the dominating protagonist filling the canvas, other times it becomes a tiny background element, hidden within a barrel hoop held by a cooper (Fuji Seen through a Barrel-Hopper at Owari), or tucked away within everyday scenes of people traveling. This level of design sensibility and dramatic composition was nothing short of a game-changing feat back then.

(Image: Viewing Fuji through a giant barrel hoop – whose mind conceived this?!)
The Revolution of "Hokusai Blue": The Magic of a New Color At the time, Japan imported a new pigment from Europe – Prussian Blue. This blue was brighter, more stable, and cheaper than traditional Japanese plant-based dyes. Hokusai was one of the first and most daring artists to embrace this color. He used this vivid blue to portray the clarity of the sky and the depth of the ocean waves, boosting the visual impact of the entire image significantly. This distinctive blue later became known as "Hokusai Blue."

2. Abroad, It Became the "Muse" of Western Masters

In the mid-to-late 19th century, Japan opened its doors, and vast quantities of Ukiyo-e prints reached Europe – often as packing material or wrapping paper for tea canisters. When European artists saw them, it was an astounding revelation!

This art form was entirely different from the classical academic art they revered, which emphasized perspective, light and shadow, and three-dimensional volume. The flat planes of color, bold outlines, asymmetrical compositions, and subjects drawn from everyday life in Ukiyo-e opened a whole new world for Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists actively seeking ways to break new ground.

Van Gogh, Monet Went "Crazy" For It Van Gogh made copies of Ukiyo-e; many believe the swirling brushstrokes in his masterpiece The Starry Night were influenced by the swirling patterns of the waves in The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Monet was an avid collector of Japanese art. He built a Japanese-style bridge in his garden at Giverny and painted it countless times – its inspiration directly drawn from Ukiyo-e. Degas often depicted his dancers from unusual angles – looking from the side or down from above, a "voyeuristic" perspective. This distinct compositional approach was clearly influenced by Ukiyo-e.

It's fair to say that Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji was a core emblem of the "Japonisme" craze. It acted like a stone thrown into the pond of Western art, creating huge ripples that profoundly influenced the course of modern art.

3. For Ordinary People, It Made Art Accessible

Finally, we must talk about Mount Fuji itself.

In Japan, Fuji is more than just a mountain; it is a national symbol, a sacred belief, a spiritual totem for the Japanese people.

Hokusai's genius lay in depicting Mount Fuji in all its aspects: its sacred, majestic, and imposing side (like in South Wind, Clear Sky), but also as part of the lives of ordinary people – farmers, fishermen, artisans, travelers. He brought the sacred mountain back down to earth, making it part of everyday existence.

Moreover, Ukiyo-e woodblock prints could be mass-produced, making them affordable. At the time, they were like posters or postcards are today – art that ordinary people could actually buy and own. So, Thirty-Six Views wasn't just an artistic pinnacle; it was also a triumph of popular culture. It allowed everyone to own their very own "scene of Mount Fuji."

In Summary:

Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji is so significant because it:

Domestically (in Japan): Overturned traditional Ukiyo-e subject matter and composition, pioneering a new era for landscape prints.
Internationally: Crossed the seas to become a catalyst for the Western modern art revolution, influencing a host of top-tier masters.
Culturally: Perfectly blended a sacred national symbol with ordinary, everyday life, truly bringing art into countless homes.

It's not just a series of pictures; it's a cultural icon, a bridge connecting Eastern and Western art, and a visual legend that keeps Mount Fuji alive in everyone's heart.