Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849), Beneath the Waves off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, ca. 1831, Ukiyo-e: polychrome woodblock print; blue key block, sheet: 9 5/8 × 14 5/8 in., Frances Gaylord Smith Collection

Katsushika Hokusai
The Great Wave
On view through Sunday, July 7, 2024
Yale University Art Gallery
1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Don’t miss this rare occasion to see one of Yale University Art Gallery’s most recognizable works while it’s on view in their current exhibition Year of the Dragon. Katsushika Hokusai’s well-known woodblock print The Great Wave, along with other light-sensitive works, will only be displayed for the first installment of the show, through this Sunday, July 7th. A new selection will be on view through November 10th, offering repeat visitors another experience of the exhibition.

The Year of the Dragon exhibition (March 15 – November 10, 2024) celebrates this Lunar New Year with a presentation of nearly 30 artworks spanning from the 17th century to the present day. In the West, the dragon has historically been characterized as an evil creature, flying through the air while breathing fire from its mouth, but in the East, the dragon is believed to possess power in the celestial realm and to pour out blessings in the form of rainwater over swirling wind. The objects on view, which are largely drawn from the collection of the Yale University Art Gallery, feature dragons on folding screens, other paintings, textiles, ceramics, ivory, and woodblock prints. Taking inspiration from East Asian history, folklore, and myth, these works demonstrate a long, complex, and continuing artistic tradition around this fantastical creature.

To learn more and watch a video of the exhibition, click here.