Picture Book Sumida River A Glance of Both Shores (Ehon Sumidagawa ryōgan ichiran) in 3 volumes c. 1840

Curator: These are the three volumes of Katsushika Hokusai's *Picture Book Sumida River A Glance of Both Shores*, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: They have a striking simplicity. The pale blue covers and vertical titles create a very tranquil impression. Curator: Indeed, the Sumida River was central to Edo's cultural life. Books like these were pivotal in disseminating art and culture to a wider audience beyond the elite. Editor: Absolutely, it's intriguing to consider who had access to these volumes. The paper, the binding – these materials speak to the processes of production and distribution within 19th-century Japan. Curator: And how Hokusai democratized art through these accessible formats. They were more than just artworks; they were commodities in a burgeoning market for printed materials. Editor: It’s fascinating how these books bridged high art and the everyday lives of people then, and continue to do so for us today. Curator: Yes, pondering their journey from the artist's studio to our present encounter offers a unique connection to both history and artmaking.