Shrine Gate Pass at Rokusozan in Kazusa Province (Kazusa Rokusozan Torii-tōge), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjÅ«rokkei) Possibly 1852

Editor: This woodblock print, "Shrine Gate Pass at Rokusozan in Kazusa Province" by Utagawa Hiroshige, part of the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, is striking. I'm fascinated by how the gate dominates the foreground, yet it feels so integrated with the landscape. What catches your eye? Curator: The woodblock print tradition itself speaks volumes about the means of production and consumption in Edo-period Japan. We should consider the labor involved, from the artist to the carvers and printers, and the economic systems that enabled the creation and distribution of these prints. Notice how the landscape is stylized, almost manufactured. Editor: So, you're saying the landscape isn't necessarily an objective representation, but a product of its time? Curator: Precisely! The print's materiality – the wood, ink, and paper – are as important as the scene depicted. Thinking about the process reveals the socio-economic realities of artmaking. Editor: That's fascinating. I never considered the economics behind something so seemingly simple. Thanks!