Hokusai’s ‘Thirty-Six Views Of Mount Fuji’ To Be Presented In Full At Dulwich Picture Gallery

This winter, Dulwich Picture Gallery will bring one of the world’s most celebrated and influential print series to London in a landmark exhibition: Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (c.1830-33).

Rarely seen outside of Japan in its entirety, this will be the first time UK audiences can experience the complete set of these iconic works alongside unique print variants.

Among the exhibition’s highlights will be an exceptionally rare blue impression of the normally full-colour work, Clear Day with a Southern Breeze, popularly known as Blue Fuji, of which around only ten comparable impressions are known to survive today.

Further exhibition highlights include three well preserved impressions of the recognisable image, Under the Wave off Kanagawa, known in popular culture as The Great Wave.

Katsushika Hokusai, Clear Day with a Southern Breeze (‘Blue Fuji’), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, c. 1830 – 33, 25.5 x 36.5 cm, Colour woodblock, The Iuchi Collection, on deposit at the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo. Photo by Norihiro Ueno.

Created by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) in his seventies, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in the history of printmaking.

Through dynamic compositions, a sublime use of colour, humorous storytelling and unusual perspectives, Hokusai elevated everyday scenes of Japanese life and nature, placing the country’s most sacred mountain at their centre.

The artist’s iconic series transformed the woodblock printing genre in Japan and has since inspired generations of artists around the world, from the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists to contemporary artists working today, showcasing the series’ enduring legacy.

Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji from the Iuchi Collection

Visitors will encounter a rich panorama of authentic life in Edo Japan, from bustling cities to remote rural and coastal landscapes, each connected by the recurring presence of Mount Fuji, a symbol of national identity, spiritual significance and cultural inspiration.

Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (c.1830-33) is made possible through the courtesy of the Iuchi Collection, in partnership with Exhibition Partner, The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo.

Planning your next London cultural visit? Explore more upcoming exhibitions, museum shows and major arts events on The Arts Shelf.