Drawing of Seated Nobleman in Full Costume 

Katsushika Hokusai drew this nobleman in full costume, using ink on paper. Notice how the nobleman’s garb immediately signifies his elevated status within the court. The high hat, the many layers, and the fan are all signs of power. This image is filled with symbols that evoke a sense of dignity and authority, and such a symbolic use of clothing and accessories is hardly unique to Japanese art. Think of the elaborate robes worn by Renaissance monarchs, each thread and gem carefully chosen to convey a message of power and divine right. Even today, uniforms and formal wear serve to denote status and authority. The fan in his hand appears again and again, in different guises, across different times, a tool for cooling and a scepter of power. It returns, this time in a geisha's hand, used to seductive effect, and it returns again as an Uchiwa fan, used by commoners to fight against the relentless heat and swarms of insects. Each time, it is repurposed, reshaped, and embedded with new meanings. Consider how these symbols, charged with cultural meaning, tap into our collective memory, evoking emotions and associations that resonate across generations. Symbols, like dreams, are a language of the subconscious.