German Library Acquires Hokusai Masterpiece
![](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10759875.jpg)
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” from Hokusai’s “Fugaku Sanjurokkei” (Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji) series, has been acquired by the state library of Bavaria in Germany.
16:38 JST, August 31, 2023
BERLIN (Jiji Press) — The Bavarian state library in Germany said Tuesday it has purchased an ukiyo-e artwork by renowned Japanese Edo-period artist Katsushika Hokusai from an individual for several million euros.
According to the library, called the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, the print of “Kanagawa-Oki Nami Ura” (The Great Wave off Kanagawa) from Hokusai’s “Fugaku Sanjurokkei” (Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji) series will be the centerpiece of an exhibition scheduled to be held in 2025.
The library said that the artwork, a print of an original woodblock dating back to around 1830, is in very good condition.
Posing a striking contrast between huge ocean waves that are about to come crashing down on boats and Mount Fuji in the background, the artwork, also known as “The Great Wave,” is one of the most famous art pieces in the world, the library said.
The woodblock print is known to have influenced such renowned European painters as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet.
Markus Blume, Bavarian state minister for science and the arts, welcomed the acquisition of the ukiyo-e artwork, saying that another treasure has been added to the library’s collection.
In February, the library announced that it has acquired a print of Hokusai’s “Sanka Haku-u” (Rainstorm Beneath the Summit) from the same series.
"Culture" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Night Parade of Dinosaurs in Tokyo; Lifelike Dinosaurs to Stomp Their Way Through Tokyo National Museum
-
Ueshima Museum, A New Center For Contemporary Art, Opens In Tokyo; Displays Works By Present-Day Artists From Japan And Overseas
-
Art Museums in Japan’s Kansai Region Reopen After Renovations; Many Structures Need Work to Keep Up with Modern Times
-
Indispensable Craftsmanship for Producing Traditional Nara Sumi Inksticks; Going from Doughy Soot to Beautiful Ink
-
Bunraku Plays with Animated Backgrounds to Go on U.S. Tour; Featuring 9 Shows in 5 Cities
JN ACCESS RANKING