First Volume of Hokusai's Sketches (Hokusai gafu shohen) 

Editor: Here we have a page from Hokusai's *First Volume of Sketches*. I’m struck by how it blends the everyday with the symbolic, but what resonates most with you when you look at it? Curator: Consider how Hokusai uses the actor figure. Actors often embody archetypes, instantly recognizable to the audience. The placement, above the viewer on a raised structure, reinforces the symbolic weight of the actor. What emotions does this visual language evoke? Editor: I see a sense of reverence or maybe even a bit of theatricality. It's like he's presenting us with a cultural icon on a stage. I can see that cultural memory and continuity you mentioned. Curator: Precisely. Hokusai masterfully distills complex cultural narratives into accessible visual forms. The bamboo patterns, the headdress, they all contribute to a rich tapestry of meaning. It's a window into a world of symbols that still resonate today.