Summer Fuji in Inage-ryō (Inage-ryō natsu no Fuji): Detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 3 c. 1835 - 1847

Editor: This is "Summer Fuji in Inage-ryō" by Katsushika Hokusai, part of his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." The monochromatic print depicts a rural scene with Fuji barely visible in the distance. What social and historical narratives do you see at play in this image? Curator: I see a carefully constructed interplay between the idealized image of Mount Fuji and the realities of rural life. Hokusai positions the iconic mountain, often a symbol of power and permanence, against scenes of everyday labor and domesticity. How does this juxtaposition challenge or reinforce societal hierarchies of the time? Editor: It makes me wonder about the lives of the people depicted in the foreground, their relationship to the natural world, and the economic realities of their time. Curator: Exactly. By including these details, Hokusai subtly critiques the dominant narratives surrounding Mount Fuji, presenting a more nuanced view of Japanese society. It’s a commentary on class, labor, and the romanticized view of the landscape. Editor: I see how Hokusai uses Fuji as a lens to reflect on the lived experiences of ordinary people in that era. Thanks for the insight! Curator: And thank you for drawing out those important connections! It’s a reminder of the power of art to foster dialogue about social and political realities.