The great wave

The Great Wave: Hokusai

In the painter’s eyes, he sees a motionless picture that will never continue on to become reality. Without the poem, the picture, an innocent bystander has no clue as to what is going to happen. This person is portraying what is inevitable of the three boats. The doomed fate is this great white wave is going to crush, beat and swallow these men in an instant. No time to react, no time to think, and no time to even say a prayer.

The picture presents a multi faceted appearance. The Great Wave strongly suggests a tsunami (tidal wave) that is going to over come the men with the white faces. On the same token, the picture suggests a snowy mountain with a cliff that hangs over the edge. The snow and ice that hangs over the edge gives a appearance of hands trying to grasp the boats with the men with the white faces. It’s a narrow interpretation that shows a partial appearance of a jaw of an animal looking for its prey. Another interpretation of t...