Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 11 c. 1834

Editor: This is volume 11 of Hokusai's Manga sketchbooks. It's undated, but by Katsushika Hokusai, and held at the Harvard Art Museums. The rhythmic lines create a sense of movement. What do you see here? Curator: These figures emerge from a patterned sea, evoking journeys, perhaps pilgrimages or exiles. Consider how Hokusai uses the wave not just as a physical element, but as a symbol of the unpredictable nature of life itself. What stories do these recurring motifs tell us? Editor: The water looks like it could represent time passing. Does that resonate with the Manga style? Curator: The Manga style distills reality to its essence, but here it's almost as if he's revealing a deeper truth. The cultural memory embedded here speaks volumes about the enduring power of visual storytelling. Editor: That's a powerful way to look at these images. I'll remember that. Curator: And I'll remember to look for those waves.