Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who lived during the Edo period. He is best known for his woodblock print series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," which includes the iconic image "The Great Wave off Kanagawa."
Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th to 19th centuries. It primarily consisted of woodblock prints and paintings depicting everyday life, landscapes, kabuki actors, and beautiful women.
Woodblock Print: A woodblock print is a type of printmaking technique where an image is carved into a wooden block, inked, and then transferred onto paper or fabric.
Edo Period: The Edo period in Japan lasted from 1603 to 1868. It was characterized by relative peace and stability under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, leading to significant cultural developments in art, literature, theater, and more.