Artwork is much more than just a painting hanging on a wall. Artwork goes deeper than that and can even have major effects on a person's emotions. Paintings have meaning behind them that the creator wants the audience to interpret. The artist is able to get his interpretation across by using the elements of art. A great example of using this would be Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." The use of artistic elements such as color, texture, placement and line allow the audience interpret a certain message from this piece of art. "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" was created to show that humans tend to underestimate the power of nature and in turn can be majorly effected by its might. Many people may not understand how powerful nature is and a simple analysis of this iconic painting will prove that.  

When looking at a piece of artwork one of the most apparent elements is color. Color is extremely important to artwork and "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" uses it perfectly. From first glance the audience will see the vivid blue ocean and the blue on the backs of the people, but what they do not see is a blue sky. This was done so that the audience will direct their focus primarily on the ocean and the people. With every other color dull and faded, the audience can not help but be drawn to the beauty of the blue colors. This artistic method is defined as a focal point. Focal points are strategically placed by artists to catch the audience's attention at a specific place in the artwork. For example, the focal point for this art piece is the blue color of the wave. It is impossible for the audience to ignore the powerful blue wave because it has the brightest and most vivid colors. The sky itself is a greyish orange color with a few dark clouds across the bottom. The dark clouds in the sky help symbolize the meaning the artist is attempting to create. The storm clouds in the sky portray a storm off in the distance showing how the people on the boat were able to see what they were getting themselves into but proceeded to ignore the signs. Analyzing this piece closely through color helps show his true meaning.

This painting does not have any physical texture; it does, however, have visual texture. At first glance the viewer is able to see the might of the great wave through the texture that was created. The quick short strokes on the peak of the wave help portray the strength of the wave as it is crashing down on the people. Another example of when texture is used can be identified on the sides of the boat. Hokusai makes the boat look as if it has been torn or beaten up which helps add to the might of the wave itself and can once again relate back to the meaning behind the artwork. The spotted texture of the sea foam coming off of the wave contributes to the chaos. The simple dot structure that was used causes the painting to be more chaotic and can help the viewer get a better understanding of the situation the people on the boat were in. All of these examples work together to provide the interpretation that people underestimate the power of nature and in turn can be major effected by its might.

The placement and position of objects in this painting have an impact on the interpretation of it. The placement of Mount Fuji in the background helps the audience get a sense of where they are in time. Historically speaking, this region is known for having massive tsunamis come through often. Which can explain the large wave crashing over the boat. The seemingly random placement of the sea foam is what adds to the sense of chaos and the overwhelming force of the waves. Another example of when placement is used is evident when looking at the people on the boat. The people are laying down in the boat, essentially giving up. The small size of the people in comparison of the waves, and the placement of their bowing bodies gives an idea that the people are worshipping the powerful waves. By interpreting placement, we can get a better understanding of this artwork and how it is showing the forcefulness of nature.

Lines are very simple but they have a large impact on pieces of art. One thing that can be observed from "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" is that there are almost no straight lines. This artwork consists mainly of curved lines which adds detail to the image and can in turn be used to help interpret the meaning behind the work of art. The ocean in the painting consists entirely of curved lines and these lines help the audience see how rough the water was meant to look. The sharp downward angle of the lines also indicates that if this artwork were continued, the next frame would most likely show the waves crashing on the people, devastating them. Based on this, it is easy to tell that the ocean is strong and has a sense of might to it. A second example would be the facial expressions of the people. Curved lines were used to represent the eyes of the boaters. The downward shape of the lines represents the sadness and fear by the people. Something as small as a simple line can have massive effects on pieces of art.

The interpretation of artwork is typically forgotten in todays society. People often focus more on the beauty of the artwork and tend to see right through the meaning. Using the elements of artistic representation, such as color, texture, placement, and line, the audience can gain a better understanding of the artwork. A simple analysis of Hokusai's "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" shows the true meaning behind the painting. The elements came together to show Hokusai's message that people tend to underestimate nature. Knowing why art is created can lead to a better understanding of it and can also lead to a greater appreciation for it. 

