The distinct composition and linework of Under the Wave off Kanagawa may at first appear to focus on the power and majesty of the Pacific Ocean, but look closely and you’ll see that Katsushika Hokusai also highlights the beauty and spirituality of one of Japan’s most venerated mountains. Breaking from tradition, Hokusai would sometimes outline the keyblock with blue ink rather than black—just one example of the many ways the now renowned artist broke new ground in the field of ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world.” Enjoy the details of each cresting and frothing wave as they swallow the far-off peak of Mount Fuji on the cover of this keepsake box. Inside you’ll find three additional Hokusai prints focusing on flora and fauna, representing the distillation of nature in a precise moment. Contains five each of the following notecards: Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave, c. 1830–1832 Chrysanthemums and Bee, c. 1831–1833 Grasshopper and Iris, late 1820s Lilies, c. 1833–1834
