NEW YORK, NY.- Joan B Mirviss LTD, along with Asia Week New York, will host a Zoom panel discussion on the influence and legacy of Hokusai's most celebrated woodblock print, "The Great Wave." The presentation takes place on Thursday, January 7 at 5:00 pm EST. To register for this free virtual event, please email director@mirviss.com. Space is limited.
The recent record-setting $1.1 million sale of an impression of "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (ca. 1830–32) by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) – more commonly known as "The Great Wave" – has proven once again the enduring impact of one of the world's most recognizable artworks. The Christie's New York sale in September 2020 has prompted numerous questions from within the art world, from collectors, and the general public. To address those questions and more, an esteemed group of Japanese art experts from different backgrounds will shed light on not only the current market, but also on the relevance of this globally iconic image.
Says Joan Mirviss, who will moderate the panel: “Following a conversation with Gary Levine about the astonishing price paid for the impression sold recently at Christie’s, I was inspired to assemble a dream team of Japanese art experts to focus in on this celebrated image and use it as a launching pad to unravel some of the mysteries and misunderstandings about Japanese art and the world of ukiyo-e.
The expert panelists will delve into the history versus the legend, the myths and misconceptions, and the technical variations present in impressions in prominent collections.
They include: Michiko Adachi, assistant conservator at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Christine Guth, author of Hokusai's Great Wave and scholar of Japanese art history; Gary Levine, longtime dealer specializing in Japanese woodblock prints; Matthew McKelway, Takeo and Itsuko Atsumi Professor of Japanese Art History, Columbia University; Sarah Thompson, Curator, Japanese art at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.