Fuji Seen from Kanaya on the Tōkaidō - Katsushika Hokusai

A classic woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai depicting travellers crossing the Ōi River with Mount Fuji in the distance.

This woodblock print originates from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, a collection produced by Katsushika Hokusai during the Edo period. The composition depicts the Ōi River at Kanaya, a station on the Tōkaidō road. Travellers are shown crossing the water, carried on the shoulders of porters or within palanquins, navigating the strong currents of the river. The scene captures the physical exertion of the crossing, contrasting the human struggle against the water with the distant, serene presence of Mount Fuji. Hokusai employs a distinct visual language to organise the scene. The river is rendered with stylised, repetitive wave patterns that suggest movement and force. The figures are depicted in a uniform manner, their conical hats creating a rhythmic visual element across the water. The composition is balanced by the solid, triangular form of the mountain in the background, which provides a sense of stability against the activity in the foreground. The use of Prussian blue, a pigment that became available in Japan during this period, defines the water and the sky, creating a clear separation between the elements. The print reflects the technical precision of the ukiyo-e tradition, where the collaborative process between artist, carver, and printer resulted in works of high clarity. Hokusai focuses on the daily life of travellers, documenting the realities of transit along the Tōkaidō. The inclusion of the village at the riverbank provides context for the journey, showing the structures where travellers might rest after the crossing. This work remains a clear example of Hokusai's ability to integrate human activity with the natural environment, using line and colour to convey both the energy of the river and the stillness of the mountain.