Katsushika Hokusai's 'Chōshi in Shimosha' shows boats near the beach of the city of Chōshi in Japan. Men in the boats hunch over and pull their paddles through the seawater. The steep waves churn up seafoam and threaten to dash the boats upon the beach. Like 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa,' this work is a woodblock print. Rather than being painted directly upon paper with a brush, the image is carved in relief from wood, similar to a rubber stamp. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.
Vocabulary
Seawater: Water in or taken from the sea. Seafoam: A white foam formed from the churning of seawater.
Concepts
Katsushika Hokusai was born in 1760 in Edo, Japan (present-day Tokyo). See his self-portrait below.
Zoom in and find Hokusai's country of birth on the map of Asia below.
Hokusai started painting at age six, perhaps because his father was an artisan who made mirrors. At age 14, he apprenticed with a wood-carver. At age 18, he worked in an art studio where he learned ukiyo-e, but suffered much embarrassment under his master.
Hokusai changed his name multiple times over his lifetime. Names included Shunrō, Tawaraya Sōri, Taito, and litsu.
Hokusai is best-known for his woodblock print series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,' which includes his most famous work, 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa.'
Hokusai died in 1849 at the age of 88.
Enrichment
Activity 1: Can You Find It?
Find the following in the artwork:
Ocean
Boats
Men Rowing
Men Steering
Oars
Sand
Land
Waves
Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork
After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.
Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities
While studying the vocabulary words, point out any you see in the print.
Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.
Activity 4: Color the Artwork
Click the crayon above, and complete page 9 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'
Review
Question 1
What is the setting of the artwork?
1 / 3
Answer 1
The beach near Chōshi, Japan.
1 / 3
Question 2
Who are the characters in the artwork?
2 / 3
Answer 2
The characters are the men rowing and steering the boats.
2 / 3
Question 3
How was this print and other woodblock prints created?
3 / 3
Answer 3
The image is carved in relief out of wood. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.
What is the setting of the artwork?
The beach near Chōshi, Japan.
Who are the characters in the artwork?
The characters are the men rowing and steering the boats.
How was this print and other woodblock prints created?
The image is carved in relief out of wood. Ink is applied to the wooden block, and then the block is pressed upon paper.
About
Curriculum
Navigation
