Rough Waves 1694 - 1719

Ogata Kōrin rendered these "Rough Waves" with ink, color, and gold leaf on paper screens during the Edo period in Japan. The dominant motif here is the wave, an archetype found across cultures. These stylized waves, with their swirling patterns, capture not just the physical form of water, but also the emotions tied to it. Think back to ancient Minoan frescoes depicting bull-leaping rituals, where stylized waves symbolize the raw, untamed power of nature. The wave as a symbol has been with us since antiquity! Consider the Great Wave off Kanagawa, where Hokusai depicted a wave as a symbol of chaos, yet also of purification and renewal. The subconscious pull of the sea and its waves continues to stir us. As you gaze upon these waves, consider how the archetype persists, evolving yet echoing through time.