Takemikazuchi Daijin, from the series Twenty-Four Generals for the Katsushika Circle (Katsushika nijÅ«shishō) c. 1821

Editor: This is *Takemikazuchi Daijin, from the series Twenty-Four Generals for the Katsushika Circle* by Yashima Gakutei. It's a print on paper, and I'm struck by the figure's imposing presence and unusual clothing. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, from a historical perspective, we can see the artist engaging with the popular culture of his time through the lens of classical subject matter. The print is part of a series referencing a literary circle, the *Katsushika*, reflecting the rise of urban intellectualism. How does that interplay of high and low culture strike you? Editor: That tension between popular culture and classical art is something I hadn't fully considered. Thank you!