Pilgrim and Travelers Looking at a Cave Shrine/ Futagawa, from the series Exhaustive Illustrations of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojÅ«santsugi ezukushi) Possibly 1810

Curator:Editor: Here we have Hokusai's "Pilgrim and Travelers Looking at a Cave Shrine, Futagawa." I find the figures quite striking, especially their oversized hats. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The piece speaks volumes about the economic realities of travel and religious devotion in Hokusai's time. Note the woodblock's layering; it reveals a commercial process. The figures' attire hints at their socio-economic status and the materiality of their journey. Editor: So, it is not just about the spiritual journey, but also about the physical labor involved? Curator: Exactly. The print's materiality and production process highlight the commodification of both travel and religious experience. It makes you consider how images are consumed and how that affects our understanding. Editor: That is a fresh perspective; thanks for making me rethink my initial view!