Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist and printmaker known for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints, particularly his iconic series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” which includes the famous work “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Hokusai’s career spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries, during Japan’s Edo period. He started as an apprentice to a woodblock carver and later became a prolific artist, creating a wide range of artworks, including landscapes, portraits, and traditional Japanese subjects. Hokusai’s innovative techniques and unique style had a significant influence on Western art movements, such as Impressionism and Art Nouveau. His mastery of composition, perspective, and use of vivid colors have made him one of the most celebrated and influential artists in Japanese art history.