Wajima Lacquerware: Sake bowl with Hokusai painting - Rainstorm Beneath the Summit

Rainstorm Beneath the Summit

This work, considered one of the top three pieces in the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, stands alongside "Fine Wind, Clear Morning" as a twin masterpiece, depicting the majestic presence of Mount Fuji. While "Fine Wind, Clear Morning" is known as "Red Fuji," this piece is called "Black Fuji."

The sharp gradient from the jet-black foothills to the mountain's peak and the pointed shape of the summit convey Mount Fuji's stern grandeur and the surrounding tranquil atmosphere. The title "Shirokumo" means a sudden shower. The lightning depicted at the foothills adds sharpness to the entire scene, while the blackened rain clouds advancing from the background foretell an impending sudden downpour.