The harvesting of mushrooms 

This woodblock print, crafted by Katsushika Hokusai, depicts a group of people engaged in the harvesting of mushrooms, set against a serene landscape. Observe the fan held by the standing woman, a subtle yet powerful symbol in Edo-period Japan. More than a tool for cooling, it was a canvas for personal expression and social signaling. Remember how, in ancient Greece, the fan was connected to the winnowing basket of Dionysus? It was employed in the separation of wheat from chaff and evolved into a symbol of purification and divine judgment. Through history, the fan has been associated with both secular and religious practices. Consider the psychological weight of the gesture of holding or wielding a fan, the non-verbal communication between the user and the viewer that still has a powerful force in the human subconscious. The echoes of the sacred winnowing basket in the seemingly simple object. This humble instrument, like the images we study, has undergone constant evolution and re-emergence, carrying a legacy of tradition and culture into new eras.