Men Drinking Water/ Kakekawa, from the series Exhaustive Illustrations of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojÅ«santsugi ezukushi) Possibly 1810

Editor: This woodblock print, "Men Drinking Water/ Kakekawa", is by Katsushika Hokusai. I'm struck by the humor in this image, especially the contrast between the two figures. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a commentary on social class and labor. Notice the kneeling figure's struggle for water versus the other's almost regal stance. Hokusai, working in a time of social upheaval, uses these small, everyday scenes to reflect broader power dynamics. How does that reading resonate with you? Editor: That makes so much sense. I hadn't considered the power dynamic, but now I can't unsee it. Curator: Right? These prints often served as subtle critiques of the status quo, masking social commentary within seemingly innocuous scenes. It makes you wonder about the intended audience and their reception. Editor: Absolutely, it really opens up a whole new way of interpreting Hokusai's work.