What are "woodblock prints"?
Often referred to as Ukiyo-e, these are historical Japanese prints made with hand-carved wooden blocks. The technique of using a number of blocks to produce multi-coloured images was developed in the 18th century, but the best-known examples are from the early 19th century: perhaps the "Wave", from Hokusai's Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji is the single Japanese work of art best known in the West. With their brilliant colours, and very different approach to composition, these images had a huge impact when they were discovered by western artists—Toulouse-Lautrec, van Gogh, and others—in the age of impressionism at the end of the 19th century.
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Katsushika Hokusai
The artist Katsushika Hokusai is best known for his series of 36 views of Mount Fuji, in the bold and simple style of the Ukiyo-e (or "floating world") style. He changed his name several times, so this is only the best-known of his brush names; as is the tradition, Hokusai is his given name (a fact that has plainly confused at least one art reference book).
The "thirty-six views" of Mount Fuji are the best-known of Hokusai's work... See the Mt. Fuji puzzles page for photo puzzles and more information about Japan's highest mountain.
The famous wave is number one in the famous series of views of Mt. Fuji. It is more properly known as "In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa."
The waves not only dwarf the figures in the boats, but manage to make Fuji look tiny, seen only in the far distance.
Brief bio of Hokusai
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An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23531 (23-531 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
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Properly known as "Mt. Fuji in clear weather," this is number two in the famous series of thirty-six views by Hokusai.
Brief bio of Hokusai
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23528 (23-528 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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The famous wave is number one in the famous series of views of Mt. Fuji. It is more properly known as "In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa."
The waves not only dwarf the figures in the boats, but manage to make Fuji look tiny, seen only in the far distance.
Brief bio of Hokusai
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B100175 (100-175 on box)
Retail price ¥1980 (approx. US$23.02 €18.86 £15.35)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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Properly known as "Mt. Fuji in clear weather," this is number two in the famous series of thirty-six views by Hokusai.
Brief bio of Hokusai
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B100176 (100-176 on box)
Retail price ¥1980 (approx. US$23.02 €18.86 £15.35)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.79 €10.48 £8.53)
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The first from Hiroshige's famous series, "The fifty-three stations of the Tokaido", this shows a scene of bustle in Edo (old Tokyo). This bridge, Nihonbashi, was the starting point for the journey to Kyoto, and in modern Japan, is still used as the point for measuring distances from Tokyo.)
Based on Hiroshige's real experience of the journey in 1832, this series include a total of 55 views - one for each endpoint, and one for each of the 53 staging points along the way.
Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) was inspired by seeing the landscape images of Hokusai, to whom he became a younger rival. He joined the flourishing Utagawa school, and produced thousands of woodblock prints, using the most advanced techniques of the time. He is most famous for his series "The 53 stations of the Tokaido."
He is usually known as Utagawa Hiroshige, being his brush name within the school, but he was born into a low-ranking samurai family (with the job of fireman), and so is also sometimes known by his real family name, Ando.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 216 pieces; 26 x 18 cm (10" x 7")
Code: E04516 (04-516 on box)
Retail price ¥1000 (approx. US$11.63 €9.52 £7.75)
Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$4.65 €3.81 £3.10)
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Kawase Hasui
Watase Hasui (1883-1957) was one of the major artists involved in the revival of woodblock printing in the early twentieth century. He brings a fresh subtlety of expression to this traditional craft.
Apart from a brief period in Shiobara, northern Tochigi, he appears to have lived his whole life in Tokyo, but specialised in landcapes, drawn from his travels across Japan.
© S Watanabe Color Print
A boatman emerges against the setting sun under the arch of this iconic bridge, seen through the cherry trees planted on the river bank. The print was made in 1947.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, and there was therefore no need of a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
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A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 49 x 72 cm (19" x 28")
Code: B61297 (61-297 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 10% off: ¥2700 (approx. US$31.40 €25.71 £20.93)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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© S Watanabe Color Print
This is a classic view of Mount Fuji, from the Izu Peninsula to the south, and the boats on the shore make for a simple but effective composition.
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A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 49 x 72 cm (19" x 28")
Code: B61296 (61-296 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
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One of the traditional "Three sights of Japan", the picturesque Matsushima bay contains innumerable small islands. These two are called Futago-shima, or "The twins," and Hasui silhouettes them against the rising moon, for a dramatic composition.
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A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B61295 (61-295 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$34.88 €28.57 £23.26)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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