Image creditKatsushika Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, c. 1830-1833, 26.0 x 38.7cm, Colour woodblock, The Iuchi Collection, on deposit at the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo. Photo by Norihiro Ueno.

At a glance

Visualize the iconic blue waves and snow-capped peaks through a rare, complete set of Hokusai’s most famous woodblock prints from a pristine private collection.

Why go

It is rare to see the full set of 46 prints together, especially from a single private collection known for the vibrant colors and sharp details of its early impressions.

You'll see

Iconic woodblock prints · The Great Wave · Mount Fuji from various perspectives · 19th-century Japanese landscapes · Prussian blue pigments

Pace of visit

The small scale and intricate details of the woodblock prints encourage a slow, close-up viewing pace.

Don't miss

Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave), arguably the most famous image in Japanese art, displayed here in a remarkably sharp impression.

Artlovers Tip

Look closely at the edges of the prints to see the subtle 'blind printing' textures—uninked embossed details that are only visible in high-quality early impressions like these.

Inside the exhibition

Description

Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji from the Iuchi Collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, UK, presents one of the most celebrated series in art history. The exhibition showcases the work of Katsushika Hokusai, who used the sacred volcano as a constant anchor while exploring the lives of ordinary people and the shifting Japanese landscape. By bringing together these specific impressions, the show highlights the artist's mastery of composition and color.

The display features all 46 prints from the series, including the original thirty-six and the ten subsequent additions. These woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, are drawn from the Iuchi Collection, a private assemblage noted for the exceptional quality and preservation of its impressions. Visitors can observe the pioneering use of imported Prussian blue and the technical precision required to layer colors using hand-carved wooden blocks during the early 1830s.

Seeing these works together offers a rare chance to understand Hokusai's late-career obsession with the natural world. While images like The Great Wave are globally recognized, the exhibition places them back into their original narrative context. The intimate rooms of the Dulwich Picture Gallery provide a quiet setting to appreciate the subtle gradations of light and weather Hokusai captured two centuries ago.

Worth travelling for?

A refined and focused gathering of masterpieces, perfect for those who appreciate technical precision, Japanese history, and the origins of modern graphic art.

Experience as an Artlover

The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday. Timed entry slots are recommended to ensure a comfortable view of the prints, and tickets also grant access to the permanent collection and gardens.

Exhibition

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

Upcoming

Ukiyo-e
Printmaking

Artlovers relevance

Approx 1 hour

Plan your visit

London, United Kingdom

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