Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 5 Possibly 1816

Editor: Here we have a page from Hokusai's Manga, volume five. The two images each depict a figure in nature. They feel very serene, yet also a bit melancholic. What do you see in how Hokusai uses imagery and composition here? Curator: These sketches, part of a larger publication, reveal a lot about the role of art and image-making in 19th-century Japan. They were intended for a broad audience, right? Beyond technical skill, Hokusai democratized art-making by making these sketches widely available. How do you think this accessibility impacted the perception of art in Japanese society? Editor: That's a good point. It really makes you wonder about the power of art and who it's for. Curator: Exactly. It shifts our perspective on the role of art and its wider cultural impact.