The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, from the Series "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" ("Fugaku Sanjuokkei")By Katsushika Hokusai

Katsushika Hokusai (1760 – 1849) dominated Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock printing, meaning “pictures of the floating world,” or everyday life. Hokusai, who changed his name each time he changed artistic styles, is best known for his woodblock print series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” which includes the iconic “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.” He was extraordinarily prolific between 1796 and 1820, producing an estimated 30,000 book illustrations and color prints inspired by Japanese traditions, legends and daily life. Hokusai created his most important works after age 60, in which Mount Fuji was often a spiritually significant element. His art enormously impacted Impressionists, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.