Instantly recognizable, Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa gracefully distills the power of the ocean into a two-dimensional image that's as deceptively simple as it is mesmerizing. But what lies beneath this beloved 19th century masterpiece might surprise you.
Though Hokusai was also a painter, the Edo period (1603-1868 in Japan) artist was best known for his woodblock prints. The Great Wave off Kanagawa has become the most famous of his series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Full of vibrant color and compelling use of space, each of these prints depicts the towering peak from a different angle and environment.
At Paint it easy we have decided to put a little twist to the original Hokusai print, and instead of the boat eaten by the waves, the artist features an emerging hand as it is launching a paper airplane (optional).
