Fuji from the Bucket-Ferry on the ōi River (ōigawa okegoe no Fuji): Detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 3 c. 1835 - 1847

Editor: Here we have Hokusai's "Fuji from the Bucket-Ferry on the ÅŒi River," part of his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." I'm struck by how the swirling lines create such a sense of movement and the daring of the people crossing this river. What does this image evoke for you? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how Hokusai elevates this everyday scene of river crossing. Think about the social context: ordinary people undertaking labor, contrasted against the iconic, almost deified image of Mount Fuji in the background. What commentary might Hokusai be making on the relationship between the commoner and the symbol of national identity? Editor: That's a powerful contrast I hadn't fully considered. It really makes you think about who had access to the iconic imagery of Fuji and what it represented. Curator: Exactly! And how Hokusai democratizes that access through printmaking. Editor: I see it now. Thanks, I've learned something new.