Shimomeguro 

Here we see “Shimomeguro,” a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, who lived from 1760 to 1849. Hokusai was working in a Japan still governed by a feudal system, and where strict social hierarchies dictated daily life. In this piece, we see figures traversing a landscape, their small stature emphasizing the grandeur of nature, while Mount Fuji looms in the distance as an eternal, silent witness. This resonates with the Buddhist and Shinto beliefs prevalent in Japan, which emphasize harmony with nature. Hokusai's choice to depict everyday life and landscapes was groundbreaking. Traditionally, Japanese art had focused on religious or aristocratic subjects, so this shift reflects a broader transformation in Japanese society, as a merchant class began to emerge that challenged the old hierarchies. Consider the emotional implications of this landscape: is it a celebration of nature, or a reflection on human insignificance? Hokusai invites us to consider our place in the world, and how our identities are shaped by both the natural world and social forces.