Nakahara in the Sagami province 

Katsushika Hokusai made this print, ‘Nakahara in the Sagami province,’ using woodblocks. It’s a sophisticated form of reproduction, requiring a skilled artisan to carve the image in relief. Each color in the print would have required a separate block. Look at the evenness of the flat planes of color, and the crispness of the lines. The process demands patience and precision. The subject matter also speaks to labor. In the foreground, we see figures crossing a bridge, their bodies bent under heavy loads. Others wade through the river. In the background, iconic Mount Fuji looms, serene and detached from the everyday toil of the workers. Hokusai’s print invites us to consider the relationship between the natural world, the work required to survive in it, and the ingenuity required to represent it. It’s a powerful reminder that all art is made by someone, and under specific conditions.