Street scenes newly pubished 1825

“Street Scenes Newly Published” was made by Katsushika Hokusai, a prolific print artist who lived through the Edo period in Japan. This print gives us a peek into the daily life and labor of the time. Hokusai was particularly interested in depicting all levels of society. Here, we see workers engaged in a hot and physically demanding job. Partially undressed to deal with the heat, they are hammering and shaping metal. The image captures the collective effort and the intense physical exertion involved in their work. It is interesting to consider that Hokusai created this work at a time when Japan was undergoing significant social and economic changes. Prints like this would have been circulated widely, offering viewers a glimpse into different aspects of society and perhaps fostering a sense of shared national identity amidst a changing world. Hokusai’s work humanizes the working class and acknowledges their contribution to society.