Fuji from the Tea Plantation of Katakura in Suruga Province (SunshÅ« Katakura chaen no Fuji), from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjÅ«rokkei) c. 1831

Curator: This is "Fuji from the Tea Plantation of Katakura in Suruga Province," one of Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji." Editor: Whoa, feels like stepping into a dream. Mount Fuji floats ethereally, overseeing this miniature world bustling with activity. Curator: Hokusai masterfully uses the cultural significance of Mount Fuji to explore labor and the production of tea within a specific social context. The figures, though small, are integral to understanding this relationship. Editor: I love how he flattens everything, almost like stagecraft, putting us in the best viewing spot to see everything at once. And the colors—they're like candied fruit! Curator: Indeed, the composition reflects how the tea industry intersects with the social fabric of the era. We see a detailed portrayal of labor practices, reflecting the economic realities of 19th-century Japan. Editor: It makes you consider how something as simple as tea connects us to so many people and places, across oceans, maybe even across time. Curator: Exactly. Hokusai challenges us to consider the broader implications of our daily consumption. Editor: Makes you want to curl up with a cup and ponder life's big questions, doesn’t it?