Honderd gezichten op de berg Fuji - deel één 1834

This is the first volume of "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji," made by Katsushika Hokusai, most likely in the 1830s, using woodblock printing. It's a series of images, bound together, and in considering this artwork, we must acknowledge not just Hokusai’s skill, but that of the woodblock carvers and printers. The subtle pink of the cover is a result of the printing process: each color requires a separate block. The texture and weight of the paper, handmade through laborious processes, add to the book’s tactile quality. The cover shows signs of wear and age. Woodblock printing in Japan was tied to wider social issues of labor and consumption. It democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience, while also requiring a division of labor. The publisher commissioned the artist, who then designed the image, which was carved by artisans, and finally printed and bound. The story of this book resides in the collaboration, the patient labor involved, and the cultural value placed on accessible art, and it challenges distinctions between fine art and craft.