Sea Coast at Tago near Ejiri by Katsushika Hokusai

The lyricism of maritime life and the description of sandy shores guide the composition of this vertical work of great plastic strength. Within the scene entitled “Sea Coast at Tago near Ejiri (36 Views of Mount Fuji)”, the independent master Hokusai Katsushika depicts sailors progressing along a bay at the foot of the sacred volcano. The painting materializes a search for absolute balance within ukiyo-e, combining the dynamics of waves with the stable geometry of the majestic mountain.

Two large light wooden fishing boats, curved and laden with men in green tunics rowing in a united group, cleave dark blue waves filled with white foam. In the background, a coastal village with small tightly packed huts extends along a gray and sandy beach where tiny human silhouettes are active, busy at work. Above the houses, verdant hills rise gently, surmounted by large horizontal bands of beige mist that cut across the landscape with elegance. In the very background, the snowy cone of Mount Fuji majestically dominates the entire pictorial composition under a pure and clear azure sky. The raking light makes the brilliance of the water and the clothes vibrate.

The craftsman’s expertise is displayed in a brilliant manner in the absolute precision of the boats’ line and the rhythmic movement of the stylized waves. His rigorous woodblock printing technique allows him to obtain a perfect flatness and an exceptional decorative realism. This meticulous work confirms his perfect technical virtuosity.