From "Great wave at kanagawa" to Ukiyo-e art

The raw power of nature has always been inspiration for artists, one of the outstanding figures of the Japan Ukiyo-e art, the "Great wave at kanagawa" by Hokusai is a good example. I feel fascinating after seeing this picture in the lecture.

In this picture, the Mount Fuji suddenly looks way small than the way it was when compare to the billowing waves. And the boat and fishermen beneath the wave, what are they looking for? maybe another boat? just outside the picture?or looking for help?

What Hokusai want to show us through the wave? I see not only the extram over turning pyramidal wave and the great power of nature but also something else. The wave coming up and starte to break on the top , right on the edge of chaos. so it may not only as representation of natural world, and it may also as representation of humen, inside of humen being. sometimes we got lost in the middle of chaos, or feel like in the edge of breaking down, we looking for the way out, or looking for someone to help with...

The "Great wave" had made a great impact on impressionism and post-impressionism in the west.The picture full of mistry and contradiction . Bring us a new understanding of the world.