The Great Wave off Kanagawa

The scene presents a rather dramatic picture. A huge wave is looming over three tiny, long, slim boats cramped with fishermen. Mount Fuji is peaking out in the background - very small and very calm - untouched by the drama unfolding in the sea a few dozen miles away. At first look one thinks the humans in their tiny boats are doomed to perish in the sea; but they are probably not. The fishermen do not look panicked. On the contrary, they look to be manning their oars with full discipline. It looks like they are experienced and know how to cope with such a situation. These slim, swift boats were used to transport fresh fish from nearby fishing villages to the markets of Edo (today Tokyo). Edo at that time was one of the largest cities of the world, presumably number two after London. One can imagine what huge amounts of fresh food needed to be transported to the Japanese capital every morning to feed an estimated population of more than one million.