In de bergen in de provincie Totomi 1829 - 1833

Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock print, "In the Mountains in the Province of Totomi," now held at the Rijksmuseum, presents us with more than just a scene. It's a window into the social and economic fabric of 19th-century Japan. Here, we observe laborers meticulously sawing planks, possibly cedar or cypress, on a precipitous mountainside. What at first appears to be simple labor becomes a powerful statement about human intervention on the landscape. Hokusai places the endeavor in the wider context of Totomi province, a region known for its challenging topography and rich timber resources. This print reflects the economic drivers of the time and the social hierarchies inherent in the labor force. To fully understand this, one must consider the historical records of forestry practices in the Edo period, the social stratification of craftsmen, and the influence of landscape aesthetics on popular culture. Art like this reflects the world in which it was created.