Mishima Pass in Kai Province
Hokusai plays a brilliant visual trick here by placing a massive, ancient cedar tree right in the foreground, dominating the composition and forcing you to look past it. While travelers and woodcutters bustle around the base of this giant trunk—some even appearing to climb it—the iconic peak of Mount Fuji looms quietly in the distance, framed by fluffy clouds. This print is part of his legendary 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji' series, showcasing how the sacred mountain is woven into the daily grind of Edo-period Japan. The striking blue tones likely come from Prussian blue, a trendy imported pigment that Hokusai loved to use.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Ink and color on paper
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