Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 13 Possibly 1849

Editor: Here we have a page from Hokusai's Sketchbooks, specifically volume 13. This work is undated and from the Harvard Art Museums collection. It shows two tigers rendered in what seems to be muted tones, and it feels surprisingly modern. What strikes you about this work? Curator: Ah, Hokusai! Those tigers – are they playful, fierce, or perhaps a bit of both? To me, they embody the spirit of manga itself: spontaneous, energetic, and full of life. The simple line work belies a deep understanding of form, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely, the economy of line is striking! Curator: Indeed! It reminds me of jazz improvisation – a few notes, perfectly placed, creating a whole world. What do you make of the surrounding marks – the dots and dashes? Does it suggest a storm or perhaps a shower of blossoms? Editor: That's lovely – the idea of a shower of blossoms. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Art, like life, is often in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?