Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 11 Possibly 1834 - 1878

Editor: Here we have a page from Hokusai's Sketchbooks, volume 11. The figures feel very active, even humorous! What stands out to you? Curator: The *Hokusai Manga* wasn't manga as we know it. It was meant as a resource, a visual encyclopedia of sorts, for artists and artisans. Consider its role in democratizing art. How might this accessibility challenge established hierarchies within the Edo period? Editor: That's fascinating! So, it's not just art, it's also a social commentary. I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly! Hokusai's work broke down barriers, providing visual tools across social strata. It makes me think about who gets to create and consume art today.