Shichirigahama in Sagami Province — Hokusai's World in Blue

Discover the haunting beauty of Katsushika Hokusai's "Sōshū Shichirigahama" (Shichirigahama in Sagami Province) — from the iconic series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)."

Created around ca. 1830–32 during the late Edo period, this extraordinary print is defined by the aizuri technique — a printing process in which Prussian blue dominates the entire color scheme. Bathing the composition in a veil of blue tones, this process creates a cohesive, unified atmosphere where sea, sky, and the distant silhouette of Mount Fuji breathe as one.

Shichirigahama — literally "Seven-ri Beach" — stretches along the coast of present-day Kamakura and Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture. Across the waters of Sagami Bay, Mount Fuji rises with quiet authority. Hokusai captures the rhythmic surge of waves with bold, confident lines, while the restrained palette amplifies the drama through contrast and negative space.

One of the most atmospheric works in the entire series, Shichirigahama stands as a testament to Hokusai's mastery of color, composition, and the power of restraint — a timeless vision of Japan's coastline that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

• Title: 冨嶽三十六景　相州七里浜 (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei: Sōshū Shichirigahama)
• Artist: Katsushika Hokusai (Tokyo [Edo], 1760–1849)
• Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
• Date: ca. 1830–32
• Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper