The original The Great Wave off Kanagawa print measures 25.7 centimeters in height. Its full sheet size is approximately 25.7 by 37.9 centimeters, making it a relatively small artwork despite its monumental visual impact.
Katsushika Hokusai created the image as a multicolored ukiyo-e woodblock print during the Edo period, probably around 1830–1832. It was published as part of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, a series that repeatedly placed Japan’s sacred mountain into changing landscapes and weather conditions.
The height is sometimes confused with the print’s width, or with the dimensions of later reproductions and mounted museum displays. The work is also commonly called The Great Wave, but its more literal title is Under the Wave off Kanagawa. It shows three narrow boats beneath a curling wave, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance.
Although small in physical size, the composition became one of the most recognizable images in world art. Its strong horizontal format, deep blues, and dramatic scale contrast helped make the print especially influential in Europe.