The Wave: Why is it so popular?

By Rose Church

Published on February 2, 2025

“The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” by Hokusai is so widely recognized that many know it simply as “The Wave.” The image is exceedingly simple, as woodblock prints are known to be. The color pallet is limited, and the subject matter is very ordinary. Given all the minimalism of this work, why then has it gained so much popularity?

Tale as old as time

Art experts may answer that the historical significance of the piece is responsible for its popularity. And while that certainly would not be incorrect, I would argue that the work is so magnetic because the subject matter speaks deeply to the human experience. 

Yes, “The Wave” depicts a rich blue color that was revolutionary for its time. Yes, it could easily be reproduced and widely distributed to spread its influence. But on a deeper level, I believe the popularity of this painting can only be truly uncovered when we see what the work of art is revealing about man and his relationship to creation.

Mountains and seas: Opposing principles of nature

The crashing waves of the ocean are ripe with dynamic energy that is not only powerful but also constant. The tides may rise and fall, the weather may be fair or stormy, but the ocean always pulsates with an irresistible energy. In high contrast to the constant movement of the ocean, Mt. Fuji in the background offers a pillar of stability. The mountains cannot bend, they cannot break. They are unchanging. 

When these two opposites are present at the same time, we cannot help but marvel at the dynamic tension and beautiful contrast that presents itself to us. Neither of these powers can be completely conquered by man. Man can build a reservoir, but he cannot stop the tides. Man can cut a road through the stone, but he cannot make a mountain flat. 

This truth opens our eyes to something bigger than ourselves. All of creation sings an eternal song, a steady rhythm, far beyond what man has set in motion.

Boats upon the waves

When we gaze at “The Wave,” we are also struck by the two boats that teeter in the water. These boats represent man’s participation in the natural order. 

With a boat, man has learned how to cooperate with the power of the waves. Floating on the surface, the boat is guided by the ebb and flow of the water, but does not control it. In the ever-constant battle between man and nature, a boat represents a truce. 

A newfound coexistence. A collaboration. 

The very same power that can wipe out a village with a tsunami also allows the littlest fishing boat to float out to sea and haul in a net full of life-sustaining food.

At its core, “The Wave” draws us in because it illustrates the story of humanity and the created world. Often at odds with man, the natural world is powerful and mysterious. It cannot be civilized and subjugated. It cannot be made “safe.” It reminds man that he is small. 

For some, this concept may feel negative, but in reality, it allows man to see himself for what he is—a creature. Nature’s patterns, rhythms, and power are all part of a divinely ordered cosmos given to man as a gift by a benevolent creator. 

To marvel at the unchanging strength of the mountain and the everchanging power of the tides is to receive the giveness of reality in all its splendor. To reflect on “The Wave” is to reflect on what it means to be human—beautifully small.

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