"A View of Mount Fuji Across Lake Suwa in Shinano Province" from 36 views of Mt.Fuji series by Hokusai

Description : 

"信州諏訪湖" 

Shinshū Suwa-ko
From Katsushika Hokusai, “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”

This print depicts a view of Lake Suwa in Shinshū, seen from the area around Shimosuwa. At the center of the composition, two large pine trees spread their branches wide, framing a small shrine. Hokusai’s use of a strong central motif is a technique also seen in other works from the series, such as “Kōshū Mishima-goe.”

In the middle of the lake, Suwa Takashima Castle appears to float upon the water. Beyond it, Mount Fuji rises in the distance, uniting the vast sky and tranquil lake to create a scene both ethereal and majestic. A solitary boat drifts quietly across the water, symbolizing the harmony between human presence and the serenity of nature.

The composition not only confirms the geographic fact that Mount Fuji can indeed be seen from Lake Suwa, but also reflects Hokusai’s vision of nature and humanity as inseparable. The pairing of Lake Suwa with Mount Fuji was also taken up by other ukiyo-e masters such as Utagawa Hiroshige, attesting to its recognition as an iconic regional landscape cherished by people of the Edo period.

“Shinshū Suwa-ko” captures the quietude of a mountain lake with remarkable clarity. It demonstrates Hokusai’s mastery as a landscape printmaker, while conveying to the viewer a timeless sense of stillness. The harmony of nature and human presence crystallizes here into an enduring image of beauty.

Hokusai Katsushika : 
Known simply as Hokusai, was a Japanese Ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker. 
He is best known for the woodblock print series Thirty six views of Mt Fuji, which includes the iconic print The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. Hokusai was instrumental in developing Ukiyo-e from a style of portraiture largely focused on courtesans and actors into a much broader style of art that focused on landscapes, plants, and animals. His works are thought to have had a significant influence on Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monete during the wave of Japonism that spread across Europe in the late 19th century.

REPRODUCTION : In the 20th century, artists and publishers collaborated to recreate famous woodblock prints, providing them to Japanese collectors and Westerners seeking rare designs.
New blocks were made, and artisan printers painstakingly printed each color using the same method as the 19th-century originals.

Limited edition lithograph
Hand-printed, numbered 180/300 on margin.
Size : 
410mm x 600mm