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The Great Wave off Kanagawa by legendary ukiyoe artist Hokusai is well-known around the world as one of Japan’s most iconic pieces of artwork. Featuring Mt Fuji in the distance, a smattering of ocean spray and a mammoth breaking wave, this is a scene that’s been admired by millions for well over a century.

And where there’s an audience, there’ll also be a star trying to steal the spotlight. Providing poof to the theory, we present you with Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, who’s taken his favourite baked goods back in time, all the while singing, “Sea is for cookie, that’s good enough for me ♫ Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with sea”.

Hokusai’s original Edo-era woodblock print was the first in a series entitled Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, which depicted Japan’s most revered mountaibehind a number of breathtaking foregrounds. The Great Wave was particularly ground-breaking in its day due to its unusual Western perspective, which puts the viewer within the action as opposed to away from it, from a bird’s eye view.

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Now there’s a new way to view the artwork, from a Sesame Street angle! Like any masterpiece, the work has evolved, translating itself easily into the modern world. Since appearing this week on @Mike089‘s Twitter feed, Cookie Monster Meets Hokusai has been retweeted more than 8,000 times.

▼ Yo Hokusai, I’ma let you finish but me want COOKIE!!!

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Time to get back to Sesame Street, Cookie Monster. While you’re a star on social media, art critics won’t take too kindly to you leaving your crumbs on their favourite pieces. We, on the other hand, love your work and we’ll be following the cookie trail to your next cheeky adventure!

Source: Hamusoku
Images: @Mike089, Wikimedia