Fuji from Suidōbashi (Suidōbashi 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 Suidōbashi," a woodblock print from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji" series. The composition is so striking! What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Hokusai's series played a crucial role in shaping the image of Mount Fuji as a national symbol. How do you think the framing of the mountain within the everyday life of Edo, present-day Tokyo, affected its reception? Editor: It makes it feel more accessible, less like a distant, unattainable ideal. It's interwoven with daily life. Curator: Precisely. The print highlights the socio-economic importance of the river, while simultaneously elevating Fuji to near mythical status. I find it fascinating that Hokusai uses the commercial transport of goods to give us a new perspective on the sacred mountain. Editor: That's a really interesting point. I see how he uses the ordinary to amplify the extraordinary. Curator: Absolutely. It is through such means that art can help us better understand the world in which we live. Editor: This insight has completely shifted my understanding of this artwork. Thanks!