The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Nishijin textile)

From "Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji)," a masterpiece by Katsushika Hokusai, an ukiyoe artist of the late Edo period, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is woven in Nishijin brocade. The unique texture not found in prints and the luxurious use of foil, which shows various expressions in the light, make full use of the charm of nishijin microfiber weaving.

The bold and dramatic composition, the contrast between stillness and motion, man and nature, and distance and proximity are beautifully expressed. The use of platinum leaf for the splashing waves and gold leaf for the wave caps vividly expresses the brilliance of the water. The sky is also exquisitely rendered by mixing various colors to create the atmosphere and depth depicted in the ukiyoe.