Hokusai. The Secret of the Wave that swept across Europe

The elegance of his brushwork, the charm of his compositions and the depth of the themes he explored are some of the most recognisable features of the art of Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849).

From 21 March to 27 September 2026, the galleries of Palazzo delle Paure in Lecco will host a major exhibition dedicated to the Japanese master, entitled “HOKUSAI. The Secret of the Wave Crossing Europe“

Curated by Paolo Linetti, director of the Museo d’Arte Orientale Collezione Mazzocchi in Coccaglio (BS), and produced and organised by ViDi cultural and Ponte43, in collaboration with the Municipality of Lecco and the Sistema Museale Urbano Lecchese, the exhibition presents 43 works by Hokusai, documenting certain aspects of his stylistic evolution, the hallmark of which lies in analysing and understanding nature before transforming it into something universal.

Lecco, a city of water, was the natural setting for an exhibition centred on this natural element, which plays a central role in the work of Hokusai – an artist capable, like no other, of capturing every nuance of water, from the roar of waterfalls to the crash of waves – and of making it the absolute protagonist of all his works, a symbol of strength, change and eternity. Furthermore, the exhibition explores Hokusai’s adherence to classical Western canons through the use of harmonic principles; this may explain the great success of Hokusai’s works in the West, appreciated even by those whose sensibilities and cultural and visual backgrounds are far removed from those of the Eastern world.

The exhibition revolves around The Great Wave off Kanagawa, the Japanese master’s most iconic and famous masterpiece and one of the most recognisable images in the world, which has captivated the collective unconscious of both the Japanese and Westerners alike.