View of lake Suwa 

This image is a woodblock print, made by Katsushika Hokusai. It depicts a view of lake Suwa. Hokusai used multiple blocks of wood, one for each color, to create this print. This painstaking process, like so many aspects of Japanese craft, demands an extraordinary amount of patience and precision. First, the image would be drawn, and then meticulously carved into the wood, with different blocks for each color. Ink would be applied to the surface, and then the image transferred to paper. What I find fascinating about this work is how Hokusai, by embracing the inherent qualities of the woodblock medium, elevates it to the level of fine art. The flat planes of color, the stylized forms, and the emphasis on line are all direct results of the carving and printing process. It is a testament to Hokusai's skill that he could transform a humble material like wood into such a vibrant and evocative image. Hokusai's print reminds us that art is not just about the final image, but also about the labor and the cultural context of its creation.