The Big Wave Off Kanagawa Analysis

The Big Wave The artwork “The Big Wave Off Kanagawa” was made by Katsushika Hokusai in the nineteenth century and it’s eye-grabbing factor is a large tidal wave. This print continues to be an iconic piece of art and can be found in a number of museums and is an element of common knowledge when referring to artwork. It is one of the most popular pieces of Japanese art and can be associated with many other widely known pieces such as Mona Lisa, The Starry Night, and The Scream.
When first looking at The Big Wave, many assume the wave is a tsunami, but by unpopular belief, it infact is not. The wave in the print is simply a large wave and it’s size is shown when compared to Mount Fuji in the background and people in boats in the foreground; which is commonly missed when looking at this art. The print’s colors are mainly shades of blue but also have touches of white and beige, making the wave stand out more with not only its size.
I gain more of a sense of destruction because of the size of the wave. Imagining it crashing down and maybe engulfing the people in the boats would most likely be powerful and catastrophic, enhancing the feeling of destruction. But the feeling of calm also applies because the ocean can be calm at times and when small waves come in and come up to the shore, it can be peaceful and relaxing, like on a beach. Also my feeling of calm is embraced through the colors used. The shades are not flashy and too bright to become