Mount Fuji on a clear day

This famous masterpiece, ‘Mount Fuji on a Clear Day ’ or ‘Red Fuji’, is a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, the second in his series ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’. The work is a demonstration of Hokusai’s technical and artistic mastery, as he skilfully fused Japanese traditions with emerging Western influences.

The print is distinguished by its powerful and minimalist composition. Mount Fuji dominates the centre; its imposing triangular shape is rendered in shades of brick-red, which contrast sharply with the saturated blue of the sky, a Prussian blue. The use of this synthetic pigment, imported from Europe and resistant to fading, was a novelty in Japan at the time.

The simplicity of the composition belies the complexity of the process of colour woodblock printing, which requires several blocks. The serenity of the scene contrasts with the dramatic energy of the wave in its famous counterpart, *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is one of the most famous Japanese artists of the Edo period. Nicknamed the ‘old madman of drawing’ (Gakyōjin), he enjoyed an exceptionally long and productive career, creating over 30,000 drawings. His body of work bears witness to his versatility, ranging from portraits of courtesans and kabuki actors to scenes of everyday life and landscapes. He revolutionisedukiyo-e, these images of the ‘floating world’, by elevating landscape painting to the status of a major genre. He is also regarded as the inventor of the term ‘manga’ to describe his sketchbooks filled with eclectic drawings. His fascination with nature, the forces of the universe and everyday life is reflected throughout his work.

From the second half of the 19th century onwards, Japanese prints were discovered in Europe, sparking a veritable craze known as Japonism. They had a profound influence on French artists, particularly the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. Artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Edgar Degas collected these prints and drew inspiration from them.

The aesthetic impact of Hokusai’s prints was significant. Europe was introduced to asymmetrical compositions and bird’s-eye views that departed from classical Western linear perspective, a use of flat colour, without shading or contour, which emphasised the decorative and graphic quality of the work, as well as curved, flowing lines – such as the elongated clouds in *Red Fuji* – which contrasted with European academic styles. Finally, the focus on scenes of everyday life and nature was perfectly in tune with the aspirations of the Impressionists.

‘Red Fuji’, alongside ‘The Great Wave’, has become a global symbol of Japanese art. Its graphic simplicity and the power of its composition have transcended cultural boundaries to establish themselves as an iconic image of Japanese culture. The work has been reproduced countless times and has inspired artists, designers and even musicians. This woodblock print embodies the importance of cultural exchange in the arts, and the mutual influence between East and West. Its ability to capture the essence of nature and the spirituality associated with Mount Fuji makes it a timeless work.