A well-preserved impression of Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave Off Kanagawa—better known as The Great Wave—sold for $425,000 today at Heritage Auctions. While a strong result, some on social media assumed it would sell for more, given its iconic status and previous multi-million dollar auction records.
Sale Details
This particular impression was offered at the Masterpieces: Japanese Prints from the Nelkin Collection Signature Auction. It was published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo) and signed “Hokusai aratame Iitsu hitsu.” More notably, the print had light mica embellishments.
While ukiyo-e prints were produced in large numbers, early and well-preserved impressions command high prices. A superior copy of The Great Wave previously sold for $2.76 million at Christie’s, setting a record for Hokusai prints.
About the Great Wave
Created around 1831 as part of Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, The Great Wave is an iconic representation of Japanese art—and perhaps the only Japanese print of this era that most people recognize. The print depicts towering waves threatening fishermen with a distant Mount Fuji in the background.
Many love the print for its deep Prussian blues, which were likely imported through Dutch trade routes back then. What’s more impressive is that The Great Wave has influenced so many artists over generations, from Van Gogh to Maxfield Parrish. Significant copies can be found at The Met, The British Museum, and LACMA.
Buying One for Yourself
If you want to own a version of Under the Wave Off Kanagawa, options range from original Edo-period impressions to high-quality reproductions—each with varying price points. Early impressions from the first print runs command the highest prices, often selling for six or seven figures at major auction houses (like Christie’s, which has sold many). Later reprints from the late 19th and early 20th centuries can still fetch thousands but are generally a bit more accessible.
For an affordable alternative, museum-quality facsimiles are available, and some even use traditional woodblock printing techniques. Always do your research to verify provenance, condition, and whether the print is an authentic Edo-period impression or a later reproduction. And as with any high-value artwork, consulting with experts or auction specialists is recommended if you intend to spend more than a few hundred (or thousand) dollars.
