Elements of Art

    I wanted to share this oil painting by Katsushika Hokusai titled “Shimotsuke Kurokamiyama Kirifuri no taki” (“Kirifuri Waterfall at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province”) that I found a couple of years ago that has stuck in my mind since. Hokusai was most famous for his “Thirty Six Views” collection featuring 36 different views of Mount Fuji in 1832, but I find a lot of his other works far more interesting. I Love Hokusai’s use of repetition to show movement in the water. The eyes are also drawn up and down the piece following the flow of the water and the use of the space vertically, adding depth and contrast. His ability to capture the calm tranquil feeling that waterfalls elicit while still depicting the violent and rapid nature of the waterfall itself is only strengthened by his choice in colors, bringing a softness to the sharp lines and details. Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e prints and paintings are some of the most famous in the world, and many would recognize his famous piece “The Great Wave”. While Hokusai’s landscapes are beautiful, I did almost highlight one of his many works depicting beautiful flowers in amazing detail.



If you would like to see this piece go to: https://www.katsushikahokusai.org/Kirifuri-Waterfall-At-Mount-Kurokami-In-Shimotsuke-Province-Shimotsuke-Kurokamiyama-Kirifuri-No-Taki.html

If you would like to see some of his other works just go to www.katsushikahokusai.org for his complete works!



                                                         Works Cited

“Katsushika Hokusai.” Katsushika Hokusai - The Complete Works, www.katsushikahokusai.org/.

“Kirifuri Waterfall at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province (Shimotsuke Kurokamiyama Kirifuri No Taki) by Katsushika Hokusai: Oil Painting.” By Katsushika Hokusai | Oil Painting, www.katsushikahokusai.org/Kirifuri-Waterfall-At-Mount-Kurokami-In-Shimotsuke-Province-Shimotsuke-Kurokamiyama-Kirifuri-No-Taki.html.































Comments

  1. LuanneFebruary 2, 2021 at 6:06 PM

    Hi Katelyn,

    I've seen never seen this painting before, but I really like the colors and feeling that the painter was portraying. I really liked how you described Hokusai's ability of creating an overall tranquil atmosphere, and going into depth about how his choice of color and line definitions creates some contrasts to the rapid waterfalls. Thank you for sharing this artwork, and even providing sources to more of Katsushika Hokusai's works!


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  2. elisaFebruary 7, 2021 at 8:17 PM

    Wow, this is an amazing oil painting; I do admire it partially because of the era of its production, and the historical point of view it represents. For Hokusai to paint such a wonderful landscape picture during the era is inspiring; the colors emerge the physical activity of such handworkers in a difficult terrain. I have taken Japanese I & II language class and learned a lot about the Japanese history, culture, and values; this painting is an example of their value of, simplicity, elegant, and true. The painting tells a story of the time-period.

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