Integrating Mathematics, Art, and History: An Interdisciplinary Didactic Proposal on Fractals Through Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa"

We have developed a didactic design for high school students that focuses on Hokusai’s artwork, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, for students’ learning of notions related to fractals through an interdisciplinary approach. Our design is based on documental research, which included previous studies on mathematical analyses of fractals in paintings and Panofsky’s method for art (especially painting) analysis. Experts in mathematics education, visual arts, mathematics, and history have validated our design and provided feedback that helped us to refine and improve it. We aim to enrich mathematics education, particularly by contributing to efforts to link mathematics and arts, by providing an educational framework that enhances interdisciplinary understanding and offers practical applications for educators and researchers. This interdisciplinary didactic proposal seeks to support learners’ mathematical and critical thinking skills while integrating analyses that incorporate aspects of mathematics, art, and history to explore notions of fractals.