Fine Wind, Clear Morning - Red Fuji (Reprint, small variant)

Description

Fine Wind, Clear Morning is one of the most revered woodblock prints of all time, first published circa 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. The current print is a reprint from newly carved blocks, and a miniature version, so much smaller than the first editions.