South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
Hokusai's "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" is justly celebrated as one of the world's greatest series of images of various conditions and vantage points of a particular place, in this case, the mountain synonymous with Japan. Juxtaposed here with the clear brilliant calm of "South Wind, Clear Sky" (the "Red Fuji"), the Storm Below Fuji reveals the expressive range and power of Hokusai's vision. Forky across the inky base, a bolt of white lightning dramatizes the sudden change from a cloud filled summer sky to the murky violence that obscures all below Fuji's magnificent cone.
This series created such a sensation that the publisher Eijudo expanded the original conception to eventually include forty-six prints in this series. Another version pulled from the same block includes a line of trees, dimly visible in the rain below the mountain, but this print more effectively implies the awesome moment of the summer storm by eliminating this explicit depiction of rain.
This series is noted for its particular blue color, called "Berlin indigo" (bero-ai), a pigment newly introduced by Dutch merchants.
This series created such a sensation that the publisher Eijudo expanded the original conception to eventually include forty-six prints in this series. Another version pulled from the same block includes a line of trees, dimly visible in the rain below the mountain, but this print more effectively implies the awesome moment of the summer storm by eliminating this explicit depiction of rain.
This series is noted for its particular blue color, called "Berlin indigo" (bero-ai), a pigment newly introduced by Dutch merchants.
Artwork Details
- 「富嶽三十六景 凱風快晴」
- Title: South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
- Artist: Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1760–1849 Tokyo (Edo))
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: ca. 1830–32
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions: 9 5/8 x 14 in. (24.4 x 35.6 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1914
- Object Number: JP9
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830–32
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830–32
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1834
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1833
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.