Ejiri in Suruga Province
The artist
Katsushika Hokusai, a Japanese artist celebrated for his woodblock prints of Mount Fuji and daily life.
What you see
A sudden gust of wind sweeps across a road, snatching hats and scattering white papers into the sky as travelers hold on tight.
The story
Hokusai created this lively scene around 1832 as one of his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, which rises calmly in the distance.
The style
He froze a single windy moment in time, capturing motion and surprise in a way few artists of his day attempted.
Look closer
Follow the flying papers and you will see them drift up toward Mount Fuji, tying the busy road to the peaceful mountain.
Where to see it
Prints of this scene are held in major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Fun fact
None of the people manage to catch their flying hats, a funny, human moment that still makes viewers smile today.