Circling the Crater of Fuji (Hakkai-meguri no Fuji): Half of detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 3 c. 1835 - 1847

Editor: This is "Circling the Crater of Fuji" by Hokusai, a woodblock print. I'm struck by the energy it conveys. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: The woodblock printing process is fascinating here. Consider the labor involved in carving the blocks, the paper-making traditions, and the distribution networks that made these prints accessible. Where did the materials come from, who had access to them? Editor: So, you're less interested in the mountain itself and more in the means of production? Curator: Precisely. The materiality and accessibility of the print challenge traditional high art boundaries. It makes us think about labor and consumption. Editor: That's a really interesting way to look at it. I never considered the materials themselves as being part of the story. Curator: Considering these aspects, we get a fuller understanding of the print's significance within its cultural context.