Fuji as a Mirror Stand (Kyōdai Fuji): Detached page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 1 Possibly 1834 - 1835

Curator: Here we have Katsushika Hokusai's "Fuji as a Mirror Stand," a detached page from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." Editor: It's immediately striking how Hokusai plays with perspective. The foreground scene of everyday life contrasts with the distant, almost ethereal Mount Fuji. Curator: Absolutely. Hokusai masterfully incorporates social commentary into landscapes. Consider the laborious task of the worker contrasted with the iconic, almost deified, mountain. It reveals so much about social hierarchies. Editor: And the printmaking process itself is crucial here. The woodblock allows for a level of detail and repetition that emphasizes the commodification and consumption of this idealized view of Fuji. Curator: Precisely. The print becomes accessible, replicable. Hokusai democratizes the image of Fuji, making it a tangible object for the masses. Editor: It really makes you think about the value of labor versus the value placed on icons. Curator: Indeed. Hokusai provides us with a visually stunning social mirror, reflecting Japan’s complex relationship with its cultural symbols. Editor: A fascinating interplay of material production, labor, and cultural iconography, all framed by the enduring presence of Mount Fuji.