The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Ultimate Design Collection Grand Piano
Built both to honor the iconic painter and print maker, Katsushika Hokusai's contribution to the visual arts community - as well as the first ever exchange of Western Music to East Asia - The Great Wave off Kanagawa piano is one of the most culturally significant collector's items ever made. Bosendorfer carefully scaled up the artwork Under the Wave off Kanagawa to the size of the piano's lid, and transferred the motif to the underside using a special printing process. Continuing the colour theme, variants of Prussian blue decorate the inner rim of the piano and the upholstery of the piano bench. The red of the cast iron frame and Hokusai‘s signature on the music stand reflect the particular significance of the color red in Japanese culture. Only 16 of these pianos will ever be made - making this piano an incredible collector's item.
Western Music in East Asia
The cultural significance of Bösendorfer's relationship with Japan cannot be overstated. After the opening of Japan to the West in the middle of the 19th century, a Bösendorfer grand piano traveled from Austria to Japan, reaching the Japanese Imperial Court in 1869. This Bösendorfer grand piano was among the precious gifts sent by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I to the Japanese Emperor Meiji. It was the first such instrument to arrive at the Japanese court, and hence the first time in his life that the Tenno heard the sound of a grand piano. This magical encounter would spark Japan‘s interest in Western music, and marked the beginning of an intense cultural exchange between Japan and Austria – one which has continued to this day.
Prussian Blue
Hokusai‘s genius is evident in his sophisticated technique, his mastery of composition and understanding of the natural world. His work Under the Wave off Kanagawa blends tradition and innovation, combining the age-old Japanese woodblock printing technique with Prussian blue, a pigment imported from Germany and scarcely available in Japan at the time. With its remarkable intensity of color, this new fade-resistant blue significantly enhances the dramatic effect of the waves. Under the Wave off Kanagawa is arguably the most famous Japanese artwork. Commonly known as The Great Wave, it inspired a whole generation of painters such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Camille Claudel and Gustav Klimt.
The Color Red
In Japanese culture, Red symbolizes the sun and is often used for traditional Japanese gates, known as "torii," to ensure the flow of positive energy. The "torii," which consist of two posts and a double crossbar, stand in front of shrines and temples to represent the transition from the everyday to the spiritual world. The interaction of the colours blue and red creates a dynamic tension, representative of the interplay between intensity and harmony, activity and calm.
Riverton Piano Company is Arizona's only factory-authorized Bosendorfer dealership. Come and see us today. We look forward to hosting your Bosendorfer Piano experience.
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