Fuji at Sea (Kaijō no Fuji): Half of detatched page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 2 Possibly 1835 - 1836

Editor: This is Hokusai's "Fuji at Sea" from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." I'm struck by the contrast between the small, serene mountain and the dynamic, almost turbulent sea. What's your interpretation? Curator: For me, it's a potent reminder of our complex relationship with nature. Hokusai, living through a period of social and economic change, uses Fuji as a symbol of stability, juxtaposed against the unpredictable power of the sea. How does this tension resonate with you? Editor: I see the tension, but the sea feels almost playful. Curator: Perhaps. Yet, within Japanese art, the sea can also represent the vast unknown, a space of both opportunity and danger. Hokusai's work prompts us to consider our place within these larger forces, both natural and societal. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. Now I see the sea as less playful and more… assertive. Curator: Precisely! It's about questioning power dynamics, and recognizing the constant negotiation between humanity and the world around us.