Rainstorm beneath the Summit 1821

Katsushika Hokusai's "Rainstorm beneath the Summit" is a woodblock print, made using a process that's both meticulous and collaborative. The design was first drawn by Hokusai, then transferred to a woodblock by specialist carvers who skillfully cut away the areas to be left white. This painstaking labor determined the crisp lines and shapes we see. Printers then applied ink to the block, pressing paper onto its surface to create the final image. The success of this print relied on a harmonious interaction between artist, carver, and printer. The deep blue of the sky and the stark contrast of the red mountain evoke a sense of dramatic tension, while the flat, graphic style is characteristic of ukiyo-e prints. This wasn't just art for art's sake, but a commercial product made for a growing urban audience, who were eager to buy affordable prints depicting landscapes and scenes from everyday life. So, next time you look at this print, consider the many hands and skills that brought it into being, and the ways in which this beautiful artwork was also a product of its time.