Tomioka, from Set Five, Amakusa District, from the series Japanese Landscape Prints (Nihon fÅ«kei hanga) 1917

Curator: This is “Tomioka, from Set Five, Amakusa District, from the series Japanese Landscape Prints,” by Morita Tsunetomo, a Japanese artist from the early 20th century. Editor: There's a quiet stillness to it, almost dreamlike. The pale colors and simplified forms give it a very gentle, calming aura. Curator: It's a woodblock print, part of a larger series. Notice how Tsunetomo uses traditional techniques to depict a very specific locale in Japan. Editor: The Torii gate on that rock formation is interesting, it clearly signifies a sacred place. Are the people of the town very spiritual? Curator: The Torii, a symbol recognizable across Japanese culture, transcends mere regional identity, tapping into deeper cultural narratives of place and memory. I think Tsunetomo is using it to capture the essence of the Japanese spirit. Editor: It’s a beautiful image. It makes me wonder how much these scenes have changed or remained the same since this image was made.