Manga 

Editor: Here we have Hokusai's *Manga*, an ink drawing on paper currently held at the Guimet Museum. It’s a page densely packed with figures in motion. It's almost like a study of human forms, but not in the classical sense. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This isn’t just a study of forms, it's a commentary on social roles and bodies in 19th-century Japan. Notice how the figures aren’t idealized, they're often shown contorted, even grotesque. This subverts the traditional heroic depiction of the body, offering a more democratic vision of humanity. What does their apparent lack of self-consciousness suggest to you? Editor: Maybe that Hokusai wasn’t trying to capture their status, but rather their actions, what they *do*, more than who they *are*. But aren't sumo wrestlers often figures of reverence in Japanese society? Curator: Precisely! The sumo wrestlers could be seen as both powerful figures *and* subjects of ridicule. Consider also, what's missing here? Color. This absence simplifies the figures, inviting us to fill in the gaps, to question established hierarchies and to acknowledge our shared human form, challenging the very notion of fixed identity and power structures. Editor: I never thought of it that way. I was so focused on the action, the lines… Curator: It’s a reminder that even in what seems like a simple sketch, there's potential for powerful social commentary. Art invites these critical dialogues, challenging established norms. Editor: I'll definitely look at Hokusai's work differently now. Thanks! Curator: And hopefully question more broadly the lens through which we see historical art.