Question

What does Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa suggest about Japanese artists in the 1830s?

A) They had to balance outside influences on Japanese culture while maintaining their own identities.
B) They rejected pleasant subject matter such as landscapes, fashion, and people enjoying themselves at home.
C) They focused on subject matter that was exciting and helped them forget the unchanging boredom of their lives.

Answer 1

A) They had to balance outside influences on Japanese culture while maintaining their own identities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a famous ukiyo-e print created in the early 1830s, during a period of significant change and cultural exchange in Japan. The print is widely regarded as an iconic representation of Japanese art and culture, and it reflects the tension between traditional Japanese values and the influence of foreign cultures, particularly Western art.

In the 1830s, Japan was undergoing a period of significant political and social change, and there was a growing interest in Western culture and ideas. However, many Japanese artists and intellectuals were also keen to preserve their own cultural identity and traditions. Hokusai's print, with its dramatic and powerful imagery, suggests that Japanese artists in the 1830s were attempting to balance these two competing influences, incorporating new techniques and styles while maintaining their own unique artistic identity.