Katsushika Hokusai – Fine Wind, Clear Morning – Red Fuji

Woodblock print (reprint). The first edition of this design was published circa 1830. The current print is a more recent reprint from newly carved blocks.

Fine Wind, Clear Morning is one of the most revered woodblock prints of all time, first published cira 1830. It belongs to the series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”, which also includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Both works are by Katsushika Hokusai and are high points of the ukiyo-e art genre.

The majestic color composition might lead one to believe that this was part of Hokusai’s artistic expression, but it in fact reflects a true phenomenon. As indicated by its title “Fine Wind, Clear Morning”, or more directly translated from Japanese as “South Wind, Clear Morning”, the scenery unfolds during certain fine weather conditions in the morning. It is then that Mount Fuji turns red, contrasting with the blue of the sky and the white of the scattered clouds, as depicted here, and which gave Hokusai’s print its alternative title “Red Fuji.”

The print has a number of variants, including an early one with more subdued colors, and a blue variant, sometimes titled “Blue Fuji.” Of these, the “Red Fuji” variant is the most well-known.

As might be expected from the period when it was printed combined with the high regard in which it is held, copies of “Fine Wind, Clear Morning” sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auctions, though these are still eclipsed by the auction prices of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Fortunately, as is often the case with such great woodblock prints, later artists have recarved new woodblocks and occasionally continued printing the design. This remains true to this day and allows us to offer genuine woodblock prints of this design, which are incomparably superior to the poster reproductions often sold, yet slightly more affordable than the high-priced originals mentioned.

The current print is a reprint from newly carved blocks, and a miniature version, so much smaller then the first editions. There is also a full sized reprint available, that can be found here.

Image size (excluding margins): 15.4 * 22.6 cm (6.1 * 8.9 in).

The print is in excellent condition.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

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Katsushika Hokusai (1760 – 1849) was one of the most famous Japanese woodblock artists. He became an artist at a young age, lived a long life, and kept working continuously, leading to a wide body of work of such high quality that he is considered to be among the greatest artists ever.

See an overview of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock prints