Fuji over a Willow Bank (RyÅ«tō no Fuji): Detached page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 1 Possibly 1834 - 1835

Editor: Hokusai's "Fuji over a Willow Bank," a woodblock print, captures a scene of travelers making their way toward the distant mountain. It feels like a quiet observation of everyday life. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a potent commentary on the relationship between humanity and nature. Hokusai, working within a society undergoing significant shifts, uses Fuji as a constant, a symbol of stability amidst change. The figures, dwarfed by the landscape, represent the everyday person's connection to something larger than themselves. How do the travelers' journeys mirror Japan's socio-political journey? Editor: So, the figures aren't just travelers, but also represent the people during that time? Curator: Exactly. Hokusai positions the commoner as central, even heroic, within the face of modernization. It's a quiet revolution in perspective. Editor: I never thought of it that way, it adds so much more meaning to the print! Curator: It’s about unpacking those layers. Considering who is represented, and how they are represented, helps us understand the power dynamics at play.