Fuji from Behind (Ura Fuji): Detached page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 1 Possibly 1834 - 1835

Editor: Hokusai's "Fuji from Behind," a page from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji," presents an intimate, almost domestic scene. The drying leaves create a fascinating screen. What can you tell me about the labor and materiality at play here? Curator: Hokusai is revealing the means of production, isn't he? Consider the ink, the woodblocks, the labor involved in growing and drying those leaves, likely for silkworm feed. How does this shift our understanding of "high art" when we see the means of production so clearly? Editor: It's like he's collapsing the distance between the artist and the everyday worker, showing the connection between nature, labor, and artistic creation. I never thought about the craft of woodblock printing itself as labor. Curator: Precisely. By depicting these processes, Hokusai challenges traditional hierarchies and invites us to consider the social context that shapes art. I'm glad we could arrive at a better understanding together! Editor: I agree!