Autumn Moon at Ishiyama (Ishiyama no shÅ«getsu), from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei) c. 1800 - 1802

Editor: Here we have Hokusai's "Autumn Moon at Ishiyama," from his Eight Views of Lake Biwa series. It’s a small print, but it feels so expansive. What stories do you think this print is trying to tell? Curator: This work can be viewed as a subtle critique of power structures. The moon, often linked to feminine power in Japanese art, illuminates Ishiyama Temple, a site of imperial patronage. Hokusai seems to be asking: Whose stories are being told and who is benefiting from this landscape? Editor: So, it’s not just a pretty picture? Curator: Exactly! Consider the history of landscape art itself – often commissioned by the elite to legitimize their control over land and resources. The moon is a witness, revealing tensions beneath the surface of idealized beauty. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I guess there's always a story behind the story. Curator: Precisely. It's our job to keep digging and keep asking questions.