Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 5 Possibly 1816

Editor: This is a page from Hokusai's Manga, specifically volume 5. The book is filled with sketches, and this page has two interesting scenes. One seems like a traveler, the other a mountain hermit. What's striking to you about these images? Curator: The Hokusai Manga functioned as a visual encyclopedia of sorts, influencing mass culture and artistic production alike. It's interesting to consider how Hokusai's manga shaped the image of Japan for both domestic and international audiences. Editor: So, it wasn't just art for art's sake; it had a real social function? Curator: Exactly. It democratized art by making it accessible, while simultaneously shaping perceptions of Japanese identity through its visual language. I wonder if Hokusai was aware of his broad societal influence? Editor: That's a good point; I had only thought of it as an art piece before.