This is certainly one of my favorite master works. The sense of impending doom,
opposing lateral directional forces and motifs that blend into each other are
qualities I appreciate. |
The subject of this woodblock print is a moment frozen in time before a small cluster of fishing boats is about to be enveloped by a towering, attacking wave. Hokusai’s elemental choices make the wave seem like a destructive monster, while the surrounding water pushes the victims in the deadly path.
Lines create a repeating motif across the crests of enormous sea waves. Arched shapes of light and dark blue provide right-left directional thrust in a pattern representing the body of the water. A third pattern supports the first two with specs of water created through foamy white dots and the heads of figures bracing for impact. The color scheme is complementary: Pure blues counterbalanced by vague oranges and yellows.
Detail, value contrast and atmospheric perspective provide only the required level of spatial depth, a hallmark of a master. Pictorial balance is infused with tension, resulting in shifting balancing points (asymmetry). Areas of force are placed in opposition with those containing more grounding and a secondary area of focus. Tiny, light curves support and contrast against longer, darker ones. Rounded contours and forms characterize most of the work, but there is a split between natural and artificial.
Less contrast is created with color opposition. Patterns and motifs bind the foreground. The orientation of the forms that create the bulk of the sea and the elongated vessel shapes combine to create motion up and into the dominant form of this work, the deadly, monstrous sea wave. This portion of the canvas inherently captures attention simply through its size and the fact that it’s the only recognizable object surrounded by the negative space of the background sky. A secondary detail capturing follow-on eye movement is the mountain-form placed deep in the background. The observer is on the sea with the victims, witnessing the unavoidable tragedy. The orientation of the picture frame enhances the lateral motion of this work.
The elegance of this disastrous event depicted in ink has no room for improvement that I can identify. Of particular strength is how three motifs all built on different elements (point, curve and shape) can blend together so seamlessly across the canvas.
The subject of this woodblock print is a moment frozen in time before a small cluster of fishing boats is about to be enveloped by a towering, attacking wave. Hokusai’s elemental choices make the wave seem like a destructive monster, while the surrounding water pushes the victims in the deadly path.
Lines create a repeating motif across the crests of enormous sea waves. Arched shapes of light and dark blue provide right-left directional thrust in a pattern representing the body of the water. A third pattern supports the first two with specs of water created through foamy white dots and the heads of figures bracing for impact. The color scheme is complementary: Pure blues counterbalanced by vague oranges and yellows.
Detail, value contrast and atmospheric perspective provide only the required level of spatial depth, a hallmark of a master. Pictorial balance is infused with tension, resulting in shifting balancing points (asymmetry). Areas of force are placed in opposition with those containing more grounding and a secondary area of focus. Tiny, light curves support and contrast against longer, darker ones. Rounded contours and forms characterize most of the work, but there is a split between natural and artificial.
Less contrast is created with color opposition. Patterns and motifs bind the foreground. The orientation of the forms that create the bulk of the sea and the elongated vessel shapes combine to create motion up and into the dominant form of this work, the deadly, monstrous sea wave. This portion of the canvas inherently captures attention simply through its size and the fact that it’s the only recognizable object surrounded by the negative space of the background sky. A secondary detail capturing follow-on eye movement is the mountain-form placed deep in the background. The observer is on the sea with the victims, witnessing the unavoidable tragedy. The orientation of the picture frame enhances the lateral motion of this work.
The elegance of this disastrous event depicted in ink has no room for improvement that I can identify. Of particular strength is how three motifs all built on different elements (point, curve and shape) can blend together so seamlessly across the canvas.
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