"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is one of the most instantly recognizable pieces of art in modern times. Created meticulously by carving a wood block layer by layer, the original artist Katsushika Hokusai made an entire series of paintings and prints based on the subject of the great waves off of the Japanese coast. "The Great Wave" is believed to be one of the most popularly printed pieces of art since its creation in 1831.
