Hokusai Black Sea Waves Print | Ukiyo-e Wall Art

A black and white Japanese wave print for a living room or office that needs something graphic but calm. Layer after layer of curling waves fills a black ground, and two round white moons sit in the dark. It has the pull of an ukiyo-e print without a single color to argue with the rest of the room.

About the artwork

Only black and white, with a touch of gray. The waves are drawn in woodblock-style line work, stacked in curling layers across a black ground, and two round white moons break the pattern. A white border frames the whole sheet, with a small set of black and gray bars in the right corner. The lettering reads HOKUSAI, alongside Japanese characters meaning "black sea waves". It is a new design inspired by Hokusai, not a copy of any one print. Portrait.

Why you'll love it

• Two moons, not one. The pair of round white moons gives the eye two resting points in a sea of busy line work.
• No color to match. Black, white and a touch of gray sit with any sofa, rug or desk finish you already own.
• Woodblock-style line work. Every wave is built from lines rather than shading, so it holds up close and reads as pattern from across the room.
• Lettering you can read. HOKUSAI is spelled out plainly, and the Japanese line translates simply as "black sea waves".
• Made to order. Printed after you buy, colour-managed, never warehoused.

Sizes and materials

• Paper — archival matte, rolled and unframed. Thirteen sizes in all: 8" x 12" through 30" x 40", plus A4–A1.
• Matte canvas — stretched on a wooden bar, no glare, ready to hang. 12" x 16" to 30" x 40".
• Framed canvas — solid wood floating frame in white, black, espresso or natural. 12" x 16" to 30" x 40".
• Pigment-based archival inks, rated to resist fading for decades indoors.

Styling it at home

Hang it over a gray or charcoal sofa in the living room, or behind a desk in a home office where it shows on video calls. The black ground is heavy, so give it a white or pale gray wall and some space on either side. At 24" x 36" it anchors a sofa; 18" x 24" suits a desk wall. A black solid wood floating frame keeps the edges sharp. Pair it with a small, pale ink drawing to lighten the corner.

Shipping and care

Unframed prints ship rolled in a protective tube. Framed canvas arrives ready to hang. Keep prints out of direct sunlight to protect the colour, and dust canvas with a dry, soft cloth.

Questions people ask

What does the Japanese text on this print mean? The Japanese characters translate as "black sea waves", which describes the picture itself. HOKUSAI is written in Latin letters beside them.

Does this print work in a home office? Yes. With nothing beyond black, white and gray, it sits behind a desk without competing with screens, books or files. 18" x 24" is a comfortable size above a standard desk.

Which frame color suits a black and white print? A black solid wood floating frame gives the sharpest edge. White works on a dark wall, and natural wood adds warmth if the room has light wood furniture.