The Great Wave of Kanagawa is perhaps the best known work of the style we usually call Ukiyo-e.
It was published in about 1830 and soon became very popular among European artists and collectors.
The curious thing about Japanese prints is that the process was openly collaborative and several artists and artisans were involved in the process.
Hokusai (the author of the Great Wave) was the one who conceived, planned and executed the drawing, perhaps with some touches of color.
Then a craftsman transferred that drawing to the wooden planks and patiently carved them.
One plate was carved for each color, plus the line (probably 7 in total).
Finally, the printers inked the wooden molds and made the prints.
Thousands of copies were made of each drawing.
How great the Japanese...
