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I'm curious: Is the Great Wave as iconic within Japan as it is to the West et al? For me it's one of the first pieces of Japanese art I think of, but I've alway
by andrewflnr 2y ago
I'm curious: Is the Great Wave as iconic within Japan as it is to the West et al? For me it's one of the first pieces of Japanese art I think of, but I've always wondered if that's just because it's closer to the intersection of, say, American and Japanese sensibilities/artistic palate, rather than because it's actually the biggest deal in Japanese art.
- resolutebat 2y agoYes, it is. There was an episode of Jet Lag (Amazing Race-type YouTube show) where the contestants drew a challenge card requiring them to find a picture of the Great Wave, but they were deep in the Japanese countryside. They knocked it off at the first vending machine, which had a bottle of water featuring the Great Wave. That said, it's generally regarded as one of many classic woodcuts, with other works by Hokusai, Hiroshima, Utamaro etc also held in high esteem. And it's known not simply as "Great Wave", but the "Great Wave off Kanagawa", since it's just one of the 36 Views of Fuji series.
- selimthegrim 2y agoI think one variant of the title has “in the offing”
- resolutebat 2y agoIt's 神奈川沖浪裏 in Japanese, which translates literally as Behind Kanagawa Open-Ocean Wave, referring to Fuji being behind the wave in the composition.
- selimthegrim 2y agohttps://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_the_offing https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_the_offing
- JKCalhoun 2y ago> Hiroshima Guessing you meant Hiroshige.
- resolutebat 2y agoSigh, autocorrupt strikes again.
- bashauma 2y agoAs a native Japanese, I can tell you that is true. There are many types of Japanese paintings, but the most popular is ukiyo-e. And I can't think of a more famous ukiyo-e work than "Great Wave". Therefore this is considered the most famous Japanese painting. If asked to choose one ukiyo-e as an illustration for a banknote, almost all Japanese would choose this work. (Especially considering that the back of the banknote, i.e., a landscape, is required) Although less famous than "Great Wave", however there are still works that are comparable to it. "Yakko Edobei" by Sharaku is one of them, and it's the most famous ukiyo-e portrait work.
- IAmLiterallyAB 2y agoI'm an American who has recently fallen in love with ukiyo-e and shin-hanga. Hiroshige is my favorite artist right now. I'm hanging a print on my wall today for the first time. Really cool stuff!
- bashauma 2y agoHiroshige is so great. 53 stations of Tokaido is comparable work to 36 views of my.Fuji (includes Great Wave). And you like shin-hanga? You are a very enthusiast! Even in Japan, not many people know shin-hanga. Check out Hiroshi Yoshida if you like. He is my favorite shin-hanga artist.