Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai, Hiroshige, and ukiyo-e print

The Whitworth’s first exhibition dedicated to Japanese prints in over 100 years, Beneath the Great Wave presents iconic artworks by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) and Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) to explore the evolution of traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings.

A Century-Overdue Celebration

Showcasing rarely seen prints from the Whitworth collection alongside institutional and private collection loans, this exhibition celebrates the enduring cultural impact of its dazzling imagery which continues to shape art, design, animation, and popular culture, from manga and anime to advertising and contemporary fashion.

The Floating World

Translated as ‘Pictures of a Floating World’, ukiyo-e prints were popularised during the Edo period (1615–1868) and reveal Tokyo’s emergence as a city at the cusp of the modern age. Exploring the work of Japan’s most celebrated artists, the exhibition shows how Hokusai and Hiroshige’s landscape prints transformed the genre.

Exhibition Highlights

The exhibition features the iconic “Great Wave” alongside other masterpieces that demonstrate how these artists revolutionized Japanese printmaking and influenced global art movements.