Fuji Bountiful (Senkin no Fuji): Detached page from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) Vol. 1 Possibly 1834 - 1835

Editor: Here we have Katsushika Hokusai's "Fuji Bountiful" from his "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji." The stark black and white really makes the conical shape of Fuji stand out, but it's almost overwhelmed by the patterned foreground. What symbols or imagery resonate with you in this work? Curator: I notice the birds and the abundance of the wisteria-like forms, which are powerful symbols of life. Hokusai is reminding us that Fuji is not just a mountain, but a sacred place brimming with vitality. Do you see how the birds connect the earthly realm to the divine? Editor: I do now. Their flight path certainly directs the eye towards the peak. Curator: Exactly! Hokusai often used animals to convey deeper meanings. The birds could symbolize freedom, travel, or even the souls of the departed. Editor: This has given me a new appreciation for how Hokusai layered meaning into seemingly simple scenes. Curator: Indeed. The cultural memory embedded in these images is incredibly rich.