Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) | Hakone Lake in Sagami Province (Soshu Hakone kosui) | Edo period, 19th century

The Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei) has been described as a gradual introduction of colour to the world. The first set of five prints were printed entirely in shades of blue in early impressions. The next set introduced a few more colours: green, pink and black. In the third group, the dawn light imbibes a dreamlike quality to the overall palette. For the next set of five, the sun has fully risen: there are now strong shadows and brilliant highlights. The last sixteen go on to explore the colour effects of full daylight over landscapes and urban vistas. 

Here, the rolling hills surrounding Lake Ashinoko are radiant in sunlight; the pine-covered hilltops burnished deep orange. Classical suyarigasumi clouds bifurcate the fore and background, drawing the eye to the snowy cone of Mount Fuji. 

For a similar impression of the same print in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession number 49.639, go to: 

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/253488

For a further impression in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1937,0710,0.125, go to: 

https://britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1937-0710-0-125