The Great Wave off KanagawaPhoto byKatsushika Hokusai/Wikipedia
On March 23, a rare print of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” one of art history’s most iconic images, was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York for a record-breaking $2.76 million. This 14.6-inch-wide artwork is now the most expensive piece by Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai ever to go under the hammer. The “Great Wave” was created in the early 1830s and is part of a genre known as “Ukiyo-e,” which saw artists mass-produce works on paper using woodblock printing.
The “Great Wave” depicts three fishing boats battling raging seas in what is today Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. Experts are uncertain of how many copies of the “Great Wave” were initially produced, though there would have once been several thousand of them. However, only a fraction are thought to have survived. The prints were not always as sought-after as they are today.
Capucine Korenberg, a researcher from the British Museum, stated in a 2020 blog post that printmakers during the time of the “Great Wave” would have continued producing prints until the wooden blocks used in the printing process became unusable. This practice may have resulted in the production of as many as 8,000 copies of the artwork. However, Korenberg only managed to find photographic evidence of 111 different versions of the print. Korenberg also noted that prints of the “Great Wave” were not expensive during the time they were produced. In fact, they were quite affordable, costing about the same as two servings of noodles in the mid-19th century. This suggests that the artwork was not initially as highly valued as it is today.
The “Great Wave” is part of Katsushika Hokusai’s “Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji” series and has become one of the most widely reproduced images in the world. Its iconic image can be seen on posters, mugs, shirts, and fridge magnets. Despite its mass production, the artwork’s value has skyrocketed in recent years, with copies auctioned by Christie’s ranging in price from a few hundred thousand dollars to over $1.5 million.
The most recent sale of a “Great Wave” print at Christie’s in New York on March 23, 2023, broke records, with the artwork fetching an astonishing $2.76 million. The catalog described the print as a “well-preserved” early copy, ranking it “among the 20 or so best impressions surviving today.” It’s interesting to note that Christie’s had initially estimated bids between $500,000 and $700,000, indicating the tremendous demand for this highly coveted artwork.
Despite the prevalence of “Great Wave” reproductions, owning an original copy remains a significant status symbol for art collectors worldwide. The print’s unique combination of artistry and historical significance has made it an object of desire for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The sale of this rare print highlights the enduring appeal of Hokusai’s work and the continued demand for Ukiyo-e prints. It also underscores the significance of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” as...
