Honjo Tatekawa, the timberyard at Honjo 

This is Katsushika Hokusai's "Honjo Tatekawa, the timberyard at Honjo," made during the Edo period, when urban development and commerce were rapidly transforming Japan. At first glance, the print captures a bustling scene of laborers at a timberyard, but it also reveals much about the socio-economic dynamics of the time. Hokusai, who himself came from a humble background, often depicted the lives of common people. Here, we see men engaged in the hard, physical labor that fueled the growth of cities like Edo, present-day Tokyo. The print invites us to consider the identities and histories of these anonymous workers. What were their lives like? What were their dreams and struggles? The composition, with its emphasis on human activity within the landscape, avoids romanticizing labor, instead presenting it as an integral part of the everyday world. It's as if Hokusai asks us to recognize the dignity and value of work that often goes unnoticed. Through this piece, Hokusai reflects on the lives and contributions of the working class and the societal issues that shaped their experiences, while also offering a glimpse into the human spirit amidst the demands of labor.