Autumn Moon Over the Ryōgoku Bridge (Ryōgoku no shÅ«getsu), from the series Eight Fashionable Views of Edo (FÅ«ryÅ« Tōto hakkei) c. 1803 - 1805

Editor: Hokusai's "Autumn Moon Over the Ryogoku Bridge" is so striking, especially how the bold bridge contrasts with the delicate figures and the distant landscape. What’s the story behind the symbols in this woodblock print? Curator: Notice how the bridge acts as a threshold, crowded with people under parasols. Bridges in art often represent transitions, connections between worlds. What emotions are evoked by the image of many faces hidden under these parasols? Editor: A little mysterious, perhaps? The pink sky and moon’s reflection seem to hint at something beyond the everyday. Curator: Exactly. The moon itself, a symbol of reflection and change, paired with the autumnal setting, suggests both contemplation and the ephemeral nature of life. Editor: So, it's a reminder of the beauty and fleeting moments of existence? Curator: Precisely. Hokusai invites us to contemplate our place within the larger cycle of time and nature through these potent symbols. Editor: I will always remember the bridges between worlds when I look at this print now. Curator: And how cultural memory is carried within these images.