A House-Builder's Ceremony Possibly 1798

Editor: This is Katsushika Hokusai's *A House-Builder's Ceremony,* a print on paper. It shows figures and text, seemingly related to construction. The materials and the implied labor interest me. What can you tell me about the ritual depicted here? Curator: Look closely at the tools and the figures’ clothing. How does Hokusai use the printmaking process to depict both the ceremony and the everyday labor involved in building? We must also consider the social context: who are these builders, and what does this ceremony signify within their community?