Travelers on a Ferry/ Maisaka, from the series Exhaustive Illustrations of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojÅ«santsugi ezukushi) Possibly 1810

Editor: This is Hokusai's "Travelers on a Ferry," part of his series illustrating the Tōkaidō route. The bold lines and flat colors give it such a graphic quality. What symbols or cultural stories do you see within it? Curator: The ferry itself is a potent symbol of transition, not just geographically, but perhaps spiritually or socially. Notice how the travelers are grouped together; this speaks to the shared experience of journey and the communal aspect of travel in that era. Does the red river suggest anything to you? Editor: Maybe danger or the flow of life? Curator: Precisely. Red often signifies vitality but can also signal disruption or a boundary. The ferry becomes a vessel navigating these complex energies. What do you think? Editor: I see how the image uses simple forms to convey deeper meanings about travel and community. Thanks!