Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Goten-Yama Hill, Shinagawa on the Tokaido" is a sublime woodblock print by the revered Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. This work is part of Hokusai's celebrated series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" (1830-1832), which is among his most acclaimed projects. This series encapsulates the diverse perspectives and transformative beauty of Mount Fuji, as visualized from various vantage points and situations.

In "Goten-Yama Hill, Shinagawa on the Tokaido," Hokusai presents a scene of vibrant yet serene energy. The composition includes several key elements:

1. Foreground and Middle Ground: A bustling leisure scene unfolds, where we observe groups of people engaging in Hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers. Large cherry trees in full bloom dominate the scene, their delicate blossoms contrasting against the blue sky. A diversity of figures - merchants, peasants, and travelers - engage in picnicking, conversing, and strolling, underscoring social mingling and communal enjoyment.

2. Landscape Integration: The scenery integrates natural and human elements seamlessly, demonstrating Hokusai's skill in representing both nature and everyday life. The gently sloping Goten-Yama Hill offers a rhythmic quality to the landscape, enhanced by the meticulous detailing of the cherry blossoms.

3. Background and Distant Perspective: In the distance, the majestic Mount Fuji rises, completing the composition with its serene presence. The portrayal of Mount Fuji - symbolizing not just natural beauty but also spiritual significance - acts as a focal point that harmonizes the entire image.

4. Color and Technique: Hokusai employs the ukiyo-e technique with precision, using vibrant yet harmonious colors. The woodblock print favors bright cherry blossoms and a clear sky, framed by the understated hues of the people's garments and the soft tones of the terrain. The balance of color emphasizes the tranquility and joy of the Hanami season.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was an influential figure in the ukiyo-e movement, which thrived during the Edo period (1603-1868). The movement primarily focused on woodblock prints and paintings depicting life in Japan, particularly themes like landscapes, kabuki actors, and scenes of urban popular culture.

- Series Significance: The "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series, to which this print belongs, is arguably Hokusai's magnum opus. It revolutionized the art of ukiyo-e prints by emphasizing dramatic compositions, impressive use of perspective, and the exploration of nature's beauty and power, embodied by Mount Fuji.

- Innovation and Influence: Hokusai's use of Prussian blue in this series was pioneering, creating more vivid and enduring prints. His work significantly influenced both Western and Japanese art, inspiring artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, and playing a crucial role in the Japonisme movement in Europe.

The original prints from the "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series are held in multiple renowned institutions worldwide. Specific prints, including "Goten-Yama Hill, Shinagawa on the Tokaido," can be found in collections such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the British Museum in London, and various Japanese art museums.

"Goten-Yama Hill, Shinagawa on the Tokaido" is a picturesque and vibrant portrayal of a leisurely activity under the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms, with the omnipresent Mount Fuji anchoring the scene in a deeper spiritual and cultural context. Hokusai's masterpiece not only exemplifies his technical prowess and innovative use of color but also provides a tangible link to the cultural practices and landscapes of 19th-century Japan.