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Hello everyone. I found this Hokusai Wave print that looks to have some age to it. Its marked "Tokyo 1974" on the back of the frame. Im wondering exactly how old it is. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Print Size- 10 11/16 inches tall 15 7/16 wide.
Frame size-14 inches tall by 20 inches wide.

Hokusai's "36 Views of Mount Fuji" has been copied more that 1000 times. It is almost impossible to date your print unless it is stamped with the date under the mat or on the back. If you had all the versions with dates and were able to match your print to one of the knowns, you could date it that way. However, there is no reference set of all the versions.

Cheers,
Stan

Dear Michael,

Your Big Wave print is probably a reproduction from 1974. It is estimated that up to 5-6000 original prints were made of the original woodblocks. Originals are the prints made during the artist's lifetime from blocks based on the artist's original drawings. Reproductions are the copies made from recut blocks based on original design. There have been a large number of reproduced copies made of this Big Wave from the Edo era to present day.

With regards,
I.Nagy

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