Fuji under the Moon (Gekka no Fuji): Half of detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 2 Possibly 1835 - 1836

Curator: This is Katsushika Hokusai’s "Fuji under the Moon," a woodblock print, part of his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." It's printed on paper and is quite small, only about 9 inches tall. Editor: It feels haunting. The stark contrast, that lone howling creature… the whole scene evokes a sense of isolation. Curator: The print would have been made through a collaborative workshop system. Hokusai created the designs, then specialist woodblock carvers and printers took over the means of production. Editor: It's fascinating how this image reflects both popular culture and Hokusai's social commentary. These prints, these multiplied images… how they transformed the notion of art. Curator: Absolutely, and the print offered accessibility to representations of landscapes, especially Mount Fuji, solidifying its national and symbolic importance. Editor: Looking at it again, it's a compelling exploration of place, labor, and the print market. Curator: It makes one think of the social and economic contexts that enabled the creation and dissemination of such imagery.