Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks), vol. 4 Possibly 1814 - 1878

Editor: Here we see Hokusai’s *Hokusai Manga*, volume four, from the Harvard Art Museums. The book shows groupings of figures seemingly in the water. What’s striking is the sheer range of body positions and expressions. What do you see in this work? Curator: This work reflects the Edo period's popular culture, where printed books played a crucial role in disseminating information and artistic styles. Hokusai's manga, meaning informal sketches, democratized art. Notice how the figures, though varied, participate in shared activities within a constructed space. Editor: So, it's less about individual expression and more about communal action, right? Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to consider how art functions within a social context, shaping cultural identities and narratives. The book itself served as a medium for cultural exchange and the standardization of imagery. Editor: I hadn't thought about the social role of art in that way before. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about the public life of images offers a new perspective on their value.