Round dish with scalloped edge 

Curator: Here we have an eye-catching ceramic piece entitled “Round Dish with Scalloped Edge,” attributed to Katsushika Hokusai. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Well, the dynamism is undeniable. Two roosters seemingly engaged in a skirmish dominates the scene. The execution is intriguing, looks very functional, not necessarily ‘high art’. Curator: Precisely. Hokusai was a master of ukiyo-e, woodblock prints, but he also seems to have extended his artistic talents to functional ceramic ware. This piece is particularly interesting because it blurs the line between applied art and fine art, raising questions about its intended audience and use. Editor: I’m immediately drawn to the vibrant brushstrokes and how they capture the texture of the roosters' feathers. The contrast between the dark blue scalloped edge and the white base creates a nice framing, focusing the attention on the struggle taking place. I can't help but consider who crafted this and for what purpose. Curator: These plates could have been created for wealthy merchants eager to flaunt their refined artistic inclinations alongside more practical means. It speaks to a society where artistic appreciation permeated even everyday dining. I also notice the solitary insect near the border, what do you think? Editor: Perhaps it's representative of how living things share the land? To me it appears incidental or overlooked by its owner and it is juxtaposed with the tension of the struggling birds; this creates an intentional emphasis on labor that I greatly appreciate. Curator: It would have been considered luxury. The labor and access to resources necessary to make this were immense and further reinforce this artwork's significance beyond just aesthetics. The work prompts me to ponder whether we now understand Hokusai only through his prints and paintings, which, unfortunately, conceals additional sides of his prolific oeuvre. Editor: I think you’ve framed it beautifully, how this piece underscores the necessity to reappraise those arbitrary categories of "high" and "low" art and examine the hands involved in every aspect of art’s creation, from the clay’s sourcing to its final application. Curator: I completely concur. Considering its materiality as much as it does its history helps bring the piece back to life and challenges the perceived status. Editor: Indeed.