Art publisher Taschen has released a stunning new edition of Katsushika Hokusai's legendary "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," presenting the complete collection of woodblock prints in a luxurious, Japanese-style bound format. The collection features Hokusai's most famous work, "Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa" (commonly known as "The Great Wave"), alongside all other prints from this internationally celebrated series.
The comprehensive reproduction showcases Hokusai's artistic obsession with Mount Fuji while documenting the flourishing domestic tourism culture of Japan's late Edo period. Each print in the series captures Mount Fuji as an ever-present backdrop, reflecting the mountain's significance as a cherished landmark for travelers journeying to the capital city of Edo, now known as Tokyo, along the historic Tōkaidō road.
Hokusai's masterful technique is evident throughout the collection, as he captures the distinctive landscape and provincial charm of each location with a vivid color palette and extraordinary attention to detail. The prints serve as both artistic treasures and historical documents, illustrating the cultural importance of Mount Fuji in Japanese society and the growing popularity of domestic travel during that era.
The XXL version of this art book is currently available through multiple retailers at varying price points. Taschen offers the oversized edition for $175, while Bookshop sells it for $210, and Amazon lists it at $158. For collectors and art enthusiasts seeking a more accessible option, a smaller format version of the same book will be released in the coming months.
Pre-orders for the smaller edition are now being accepted, with Taschen pricing it at $80, Bookshop at $74, and Amazon at $80. This pricing structure makes Hokusai's complete Mount Fuji series accessible to a broader range of art lovers and collectors, ensuring that this treasure of international art history can be appreciated by audiences with varying budgets and display preferences.
