Waterfall, cut from a sheet of harimaze prints 

Curator: This is Utagawa Hiroshige’s "Waterfall," cut from a sheet of harimaze prints, and it's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Striking how the verticality dominates. It evokes such a sense of serene, almost melancholic isolation. Curator: Well, considering Hiroshige's context, living in a time of significant social stratification, the waterfall, as a symbol, could represent the limited social mobility. The water's constrained path mirrors the restricted opportunities for individuals. Editor: The waterfall has always been a symbol of purification, rebirth, and power. It transcends cultures—a powerful image in Shinto traditions, embodying cleansing rituals and the potent force of nature. Curator: It certainly does reflect the power of the natural world. What do you make of the single tree clinging to the edge? Editor: The tree, perched precariously, it's a visual metaphor for resilience, wouldn't you agree? The ability to endure against the odds. Curator: I find it fascinating how a single image can hold so much. Editor: Indeed. These symbols create enduring emotional connections.