View of Koshigoe from Shichirigahama, with poems by Rokujuan Fukumaro and ShÅ«chōdō Edo period,

Editor: This is Hokusai’s "View of Koshigoe from Shichirigahama," a woodblock print. The figures almost seem to float against the landscape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Notice how the poems are integrated into the landscape. Hokusai is intentionally placing intellectual life as a companion to scenes of everyday life and labor. It suggests a conversation, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, it does. A conversation between the classes, maybe? Curator: Precisely! The image challenges rigid social boundaries, suggesting art and poetry are not exclusive to the elite. Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective on Hokusai. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It's a print that empowers, challenging the status quo.