Mishima pass in Kai province 

Editor: This is "Mishima Pass in Kai Province," a woodblock print by Hokusai. The giant tree in the foreground dominates the image, making the figures working at its base seem so small and vulnerable. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, for me, the positioning of that massive tree, obscuring Mount Fuji, is central. Consider Hokusai's historical context. Japan's relationship with nature, particularly sacred sites like Fuji, was and remains complex, interwoven with Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. Editor: So the tree isn’t just a tree? Curator: Exactly. Think of it as a visual metaphor. It's intervening between us and a symbol of national identity, perhaps even suggesting a critique of the socio-political structures of the time that were obscuring a purer connection to Japanese identity. Who has access to the sacred? Who profits from the landscape versus those laboring within it? What power does the natural world possess? Editor: It's interesting how the figures almost blend into the tree, like they’re a part of it. Curator: Precisely! Are they dwarfed, exploited, or coexisting? And, we must ask ourselves who these laborers are. What are their class and social roles? These elements introduce vital dimensions of inequality into the composition. Hokusai might be highlighting an inherent tension in how society relates to both its people and the environment. Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that. I was mostly just seeing the beautiful landscape, but there’s a deeper message. Curator: Yes, art like this reminds us to always question who is represented and who is missing from the narrative, prompting us to examine our own position within those power dynamics. Editor: I'll definitely look at Hokusai's other work with this in mind. Thanks for shedding light on this!