Swallow and begonia and strawberry pie 1834

Katsushika Hokusai produced this woodblock print, "Swallow and begonia and strawberry pie" in 19th-century Japan. Hokusai was working at a time of great social and economic change, as Japan was gradually opening up to the West after a long period of isolation. The image invites us to consider the natural world. But how does it reflect Japan's social and institutional changes at the time? Hokusai's focus on everyday subjects, like birds and flowers, was a departure from the more traditional focus on landscapes or historical scenes. Also, woodblock prints were becoming more popular and affordable, making art accessible to a wider audience. This democratization of art was part of a broader shift in Japanese society. Art historians often consult prints and illustrated books from the period, as well as social and economic histories, to understand the changing role of art and artists. This helps to place the work within the social and institutional context of its time.