Travelers Passing along a Mountain Cliff/ Okitsu, from the series Exhaustive Illustrations of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojÅ«santsugi ezukushi) Possibly 1810

Editor: So, this woodblock print, "Travelers Passing along a Mountain Cliff," by Hokusai, feels so peaceful, even though those travelers are facing a steep climb. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: Well, it whispers to me of journeys, both physical and internal. The small figures against the grand landscape evoke a sense of human perseverance against the backdrop of nature’s quiet immensity, don't you think? What do you suppose they're carrying? Editor: Maybe treasures, or just the weight of their everyday lives? Curator: Precisely! And perhaps the greatest treasure is the journey itself. What a lovely thought, indeed.