New Year's Day of the Year of Horse c. early 19th century

Editor: Here we have Hokusai's "New Year's Day of the Year of the Horse," a woodblock print from the early 19th century. It's quite simple—mostly muted tones, with this striking black saddle taking up a lot of the composition. I’m curious about what might be inferred from the saddle and other sparse motifs in the context of New Year's celebrations. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image through a socio-political lens. New Year’s in Edo-period Japan wasn't just a personal celebration; it was deeply interwoven with social structures. The horse saddle, so prominently displayed, might represent not just prosperity – the horse being a symbol of wealth and power – but also allude to the strict hierarchical society. Consider, who could afford a horse and its trappings? This print, in its quiet way, comments on class. The lone plum branch can even speak to resistance. Editor: Resistance? That's unexpected! Curator: Plum blossoms were a symbol of resilience, blooming even in winter's harshness. It may express how hope and renewal exist for the marginalized or less affluent members of society who were excluded from traditional displays of wealth that new year might have amplified. Does seeing the print this way resonate with you? Editor: It really does. Thinking about the social hierarchies at play—it casts such a different light on what I initially saw as simply a charming image. Thanks to this new lens, it's given me some further interest in Hokusai’s other artworks. Curator: And by examining it through the perspective of resistance and marginalization, the piece comes alive with stories of the community, their perseverance, and their complex realities beyond celebration. It is essential that we remember these lesser seen realities.