The Great Wave by Hokusai
reversed …..
The Japanese read things from right to left so this is how they would ‘read’ the print of The Wave, by Hokusai.
The focus is more about the boats heading into the wave.
(this is a photo I took of the picture on my computer screen, then flipped it).
For years I looked at The Wave and hardly noticed the boats and the people in them.
Now I see the picture differently
I wonder how this affects our cultural differences in many and various subtle ways.
Textile, Mixed Media, Yarn, Books and Beads
Developing a more sustainable lifestyle in SW Wales
Garden Thoughts from Florida's Treasure Coast
Reflections on Life through poetry, essays and photos
crafty excuses for not doing the housework
Making and creating
Gardening in Lazio
For the love of crochet
crochet blogger, designer, crochet addict, yarn hoarder and co-host of The crochet sanctuary
Until morale improves, the crocheting will continue.
Sharing my adventures in sewing and needlearts
For all who appreciate the beauty of words, flowers and homecooking
Tales of quilting, gardening and cooking from the Kingdom of Chiconia
a nutty crochet blog for nutty people
A blog about nature, home, community, books, writing, the environment, food, and rural life.
My Own Paradise: Life on Seven and a Half Acres
Roaming, at home and abroad
A garden set in the Wye Valley
THE FABRIC FIRST AIDER
Everyday life with crochet, arts & crafts thrown in.
An Artist's Journal: The day-to-day life of a full-time artist, exploring the highs, the lows, and the in betweens.
Award-winning Scottish publishing and design
Ramblings of an Irish ecologist and gardener
picking up the plastics
living and trying to create a garden on a hebridean island
All things crochet inspired by coastal living...
Haiku, Photography, Afghan Hounds, Australia, Poetry
Wool, Wiltshire and All Manner of Wonderful Things!
.....and nurturing my soul
Teaching the art of composition for photography.
My crafty creations corner
Bringing the outside in
small steps to a kinder world
Sewing, crochet, crafts, accessories, baking, tutorials,
Vashti Quiroz-Vega, Author, Horror, Fantasy, Thriller, Short Stories & Articles
the joy of creativity
the joy of creativity
the joy of creativity
the joy of creativity
Ravelry
Wild Daffodil 
Left to Right it is more ‘threatening’ as it seems the wave is ‘sneaking up’ (to me) but R to L not so much. More like ‘in your face’ and the humans are ‘braving’ the wave. Thanks for this information. I lived in Japan a few years and hadn’t thought about reading pictures in the correct direction. Our personal preferences(prejudices?) are so subtly ingrained. lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! You describe the two different feelings just as I see them.
You lived in Japan!!!!!!!!
Oh my word! How delightful. I loved Japan – I went there in November 2015.
There are some blog posts from that time on here.
Were you working there?
I’d love to go back.
LikeLike
Fascinating is right! When the direction is changed, it’s a completely different picture. Thanks for giving me a another perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My absolute pleasure Laurie – fun isn’t it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! And illuminating. Perceptive in art, as well as writing, makes a big difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed! 🙂
LikeLike
What an interesting point!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I came across this idea a couple of years ago and it really made me think. I posted today because my Granddaughter, Big Sis, aged 10 is doing a project on the print at school. We were chattig about it at the weekend. I sent her my photos and wondered if any Wild Daffodil readers would be interested as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thought provoking, as your posts often are, Sandra
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Great post 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
Still trying to decide if the people are heading into the wave or frantically rowing away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tried to find more about the painitng. There is masses, but so far I can only find the comments of Westerners. I wonder if it is according to how we feel at the time of looking. Wabi Sabi, is often about leaving things unfinished so that the viewer finishes the picture in their own mind.
Here is a link to lots of references on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=The+Great+Wave+by+Hokusai
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting notion. I wonder if it applies to other paintings if you reverse them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good thought. I will be flipping pictures more often!
LikeLike
I do find it more comfortable to look at reversed. Probably for exactly the reason you say, we read left to right and it flows better for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find it fascinating how the emotion changes with each version.
LikeLiked by 1 person