RISD Museum 

Ask students to describe the placement of the boats and to discuss how the human figures are shown. What is the relationship between humans and nature? Also, what might the print tell us about Japanese trade during this time?

Does looking at this image from right to left change the way we interpret the scene? If so, how?

. This word is formed from the ideograms (or written symbols) for mountain and water. With older students,

. Ask them to discuss how this word is particularly appropriate to the Japanese landscape and how these two natural elements, mountain and water, relate to one another in Hokusai’s print.

Discussion Questions 2-4: Nature, Place, and Geography 

Writing/Making/Doing: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

Write a haiku inspired by Hokusai’s print that captures its imagery and mood.

Writing Haikus: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

To encourage students to think about what makes this image so powerful, ask them to focus on how Hokusai used scale, color, and line. Make your own observations about what you notice about scale (the size of different parts in relation to each other), color and types of lines. Circle important areas and write your notes about these key elements. Discuss your observations.  

Discussion Question 1: Color, Scale, and Line

Katsushika Hokusai,  Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa, ca. 1829-1833

About the Work: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

Virtual Visit: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

Resource Kit Overview: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

Looking at the objects around you, consider how many of them were created by an artist or designer. Artists and designers are problem solvers, inventors, and skilled technicians; they express the complexity of human experience in their times, communicate ideas, fulfill practical needs, and challenge us to stretch our own views. Explore different artists and designers who represent a broad range of time periods and cultures.



Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Artists’ Ideas, Materials, & Process: Under the Great Wave

Discussion Questions 2-4: Nature, Place, and Geography

Background Knowledge

Discussion Question 2

Discussion Question 3

Discussion Question 4