View of Koshigoe from Shichiri-ga-hama

Katsushika Hokusai made this woodblock print titled 'View of Koshigoe from Shichiri-ga-hama' during the Edo period in Japan, a time marked by relative peace and economic growth but also rigid social hierarchies. Here, Hokusai presents us with a scene of everyday life. A woman rides an ox, guided by a young boy, while another woman walks alongside. It invites us to consider the roles and expectations placed upon individuals within the socio-economic structure of Japan at the time. The ox, typically a beast of burden, here is a mode of transport for the upper class. We can ask ourselves if this artwork reinforces traditional representations of women, class, and labor, or does it offer subtle narratives of resistance? Hokusai’s work encourages us to reflect on the intersections of identity and circumstance that shaped the lives of people in 19th century Japan.