Fear, awe, and reverence converge in this iconic scene - an enduring image of resilience and power, often given for sympathy or encouragement. A cresting wave curls with clawed elegance, poised to engulf the boats below, while Mount Fuji remains distant and unmoved, anchoring the chaos.

In The Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai’s use of Prussian blue and dynamic composition turns nature into both adversary and muse. It captures a sublime truth: the world is vast, we are small - and still, we press forward.

Currently held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, courtesy of the Clarence Buckingham Collection.