Fuji in Mist (MuchÅ« no Fuji): Detached page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 1 Possibly 1834 - 1835

Editor: This is Hokusai's "Fuji in Mist," from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." It's a woodblock print, a detached page. I'm struck by how the mist almost obscures the mountain, turning it into a ghostly presence. What do you make of this choice, considering the cultural significance of Mount Fuji? Curator: Hokusai’s print cleverly uses mist not just as weather, but as a commentary on visibility and power. Consider how the image circulated: inexpensive prints, making the revered Fuji accessible to a broader public. Does obscuring the mountain, in effect, democratize its image by subverting its imposing stature? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about how the print medium itself plays a role in this subversion. Curator: Exactly! It challenges the traditional, elite views of the mountain. So, what began as a landscape becomes a statement about social access to iconic imagery. Editor: I see your point, the misty Fuji democratizes the public view of the mountain. Thank you!