Two Women Standing between Trees/ Shōdoshima Island in Sanuki Province, with poems by JÅ« Tokubi and Futabatei Shigefumi c. 1804

Curator: Editor: This woodblock print, "Two Women Standing between Trees," attributed to Hokusai, feels so peaceful. I'm drawn to the way the figures interact with nature and the text. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, the serenity is deceptive. For me, it’s the poems that whisper secrets. Imagine the rustling of leaves, a conversation between travelers—perhaps Hokusai himself—recording a fleeting moment on Shodoshima Island. What do you think their stories might be? Editor: I hadn't considered them as travelers; that gives the work another whole dimension. Now the placement of the figures seems like they're moving forward along a journey. I’ve got to do more reading about how poetry influences Japanese art. Thanks. Curator: Wonderful! The beauty, I find, resides in asking questions, not just answering them.