Hokusai's 1829 woodblock print "The Great Wave at Kanagawa" is without doubt one of the most enduring images of world art. It depicts a stormy sea off the coast of the Kanagawa Prefecture, located southwest of Tokyo, and has historically been home to a great number of fishing ports. The 'great wave', which the artist so deftly illustrates, is both an actual and a symbolic deluge. Due to a variety of external conflicts, the Japanese authorities of the Edo period decided to sever all ties with the outside world for more than 260 years - between 1603 and 1868. During this long period of isolation, Japan developed a remarkably singular and particular culture, primarily in the fields of architecture, sculpture, painting, ceramics, porcelain and woodblock prints, each of which was utterly unrelated to any outside influence. Hokusai's iconic image was completed as part of his series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji', which as a body of work is a masterpiece of poetic intimacy. A popular subject for myths, legends, and literature, the volcano had played a part in Japanese culture since the 8th century. Yet it was the poignant humanism with which Hokusai approached the subject that earned his contribution its highest place in the Mount Fuji canon. Almost engulfed beneath the teetering waves the sullen basket of weary fishermen appears caught between two monoliths of national identity - literature and nature. Hokusai's 'Great Wave' is therefore both a spiritual sibling of the towering might of Mount Fuji - a less sympathetic element that swallows men and their meager plans - and a stark premonition of the rising tide of modernism that would soon wash old Japan away for ever.
Hokusai’s 1829 woodblock print “The Great Wave at Kanagawa” is without doubt one of the most enduring images of world art. It depicts a stormy sea off the coast of the Kanagawa Prefecture, located southwest of Tokyo, and has historically been home to a great number of fishing ports. The ‘great wave’, which the artist so deftly illustrates, is both an actual and a symbolic deluge. Due to a variety of external conflicts, the Japanese authorities of the Edo period decided to sever all ties with the outside world for more than 260 years — between 1603 and 1868. During this long period of isolation, Japan developed a remarkably singular and particular culture, primarily in the fields of architecture, sculpture, painting, ceramics, porcelain and woodblock prints, each of which was utterly unrelated to any outside influence. Hokusai’s iconic image was completed as part of his series ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’, which as a body of work is a masterpiece of poetic intimacy. A popular subject for myths, legends, and literature, the volcano had played a part in Japanese culture since the 8th century. Yet it was the poignant humanism with which Hokusai approached the subject that earned his contribution its highest place in the Mount Fuji canon. Almost engulfed beneath the teetering waves the sullen basket of weary fishermen appears caught between two monoliths of national identity — literature and nature. Hokusai’s ‘Great Wave’ is therefore both a spiritual sibling of the towering might of Mount Fuji — a less sympathetic element that swallows men and their meager plans — and a stark premonition of the rising tide of modernism that would soon wash old Japan away for ever
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Canvas Print Framing Options
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
All of our artwork comes gallery wrapped. The image is stretched around the sides and stapled to the
back of the wooden frame. Your piece of art will be ready to hang, and will include an easy-to-use
hanging kit.
Floating Frame
A little “armor for your art” that won‘t obscure the canvas. Your canvas print is
gallery wrapped and mounted to a 2" thick, elegant, black hard wood frame. The art is inset, leaving a
3/8" space between the art and frame, creating the illusion that your art is “floating.”
FRAME OPTIONS
Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art. Mottled gold & silver frames are hard wood with a textured metallic finish. Silver pairs well with cool colors and dark backgrounds, while gold pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors. Dark wood can look great with rustic, farmhouse, nature and photography prints.
Framed Canvas Framing Options
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
All of our artwork comes gallery wrapped. The image is stretched around the sides and stapled to the
back of the wooden frame. Your piece of art will be ready to hang, and will include an easy-to-use
hanging kit.
Floating Frame
A little “armor for your art” that won‘t obscure the canvas. Your canvas print is
gallery wrapped and mounted to a 2" thick, elegant, black hard wood frame. The art is inset, leaving a
3/8" space between the art and frame, creating the illusion that your art is “floating.”
FRAME OPTIONS
Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art. Mottled gold & silver frames are hard wood with a textured metallic finish. Silver pairs well with cool colors and dark backgrounds, while gold pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors. Dark wood can look great with rustic, farmhouse, nature and photography prints.
About Framed Art Prints
Fine Art Paper
Presented on heavyweight (300 GSM) fine art paper with a distinct textured surface, using long-lasting ultra-chrome inks. A white border is left around the artwork for self-matting or to draw the eye in further.
Low-Glare Acrylic
Acrylite clear-coat premium glazing reduces glare while maintaining a crystal clear view of your art. Your art will be well protected and easy to clean.
Frame Options
Our Indonesian hardwood frames are handcrafted at iCanvas. Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art.
Mottled Gold has a textured metallic finish and pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors.
Natural Wood brings the outdoors in and pairs well with watercolors, Scandinavian style artwork, or any natural, earthy subject matter.
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Giclee Printing Process
The standard for precision and stunning color reproduction.
Premium Materials
The best quality canvas for texture and finish; premium inks for vivid color; hand-stretched over 100% North American pine frames.
Handcrafted
Every item is made-to-order — printed, stretched, and stapled here, at iCanvas.
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