Fuji with a Rocket (Rōen [noroshi] no Fuji): Half of detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 3 c. 1835 - 1847

Curator: Hokusai's "Fuji with a Rocket" from his *One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji*, is a striking woodblock print that gives us insight into 19th-century communication. It's part of a larger cultural phenomenon around the symbol of Mt. Fuji itself. Editor: It's like a dream! The ascending smoke contrasts with the serene Fuji backdrop and all those tiny ships. The composition is so dynamic, even with the limited color palette. Curator: The "rocket" refers to signal fires, key for relaying information swiftly. Hokusai often embedded social commentary within his landscapes. Editor: The figures tending the fire seem almost to be launching the smoke, it's as if they're igniting the landscape itself. It makes me feel a sense of urgency and connection. Curator: This piece underscores how landscapes became stages for national narratives and technological advancements. Editor: It's thought-provoking how the fleeting smoke contrasts with the iconic permanence of Mount Fuji. Curator: Indeed, it reflects how art captures both the eternal and the ephemeral aspects of society. Editor: Absolutely, and the artistic vision transforms it into something timeless.