6. The article concludes:
Hokusai already knew, in 1830, how quickly and thoroughly an image’s meaning can change. It’s already there in the picture of Ejiri. …
Here, in a crummy little marsh under Fuji, Hokusai gave us a vision of culture in constant motion.
Because art’s meaning lies not only in what it looks like, but in how it circulates. And if you can’t fully control circulation, you can’t fully control meaning either. Least of all today, when digital images blow every which way.
You hold on to what you can in this explosion of images. But the mountain fades in the distance, and the papers end up in the air.
Do you agree with this interpretation? If yes, why? What does Mr. Farago mean when he states that “if you can’t fully control circulation, you can’t fully control meaning either”? Explain his view, or present a counter-interpretation using details from the artwork to support your own.
7. Finally, what is your own assessment of Hokusai’s artistry? What qualities of “Ejiri in Suruga Province” do you find most moving, appealing or artistically significant? Does this article and its passionate case for close visual analysis affect your interest in this work, or make you more curious to learn more about art history in general?
Going Further
Now it’s your turn: Write your own analysis and interpretation of a piece of fine art. Consider how you can draw on Mr. Farago’s vivid sensory language and ability to zoom in on many aspects of a single artwork in order to draw conclusions about context and meaning for your own piece.
1. First choose an artwork to discuss. For inspiration, you can look through The Times’s Art & Design page to find paintings by Jacob Lawrence and Kerry James Marshall, textile sculptures from Sonia Gomes, cinematic photographs by Gregory Crewdson and the like.
Or peruse these free online art collections:
2. After you have chosen your art work, use the same questions from the warm-up to formulate your analysis:
Then dig a little deeper:
What do you notice about the composition, colors, objects and people in the artwork?
Why did this artwork stand out to you? What do you find interesting or moving about it?
What do you think is the purpose of this artwork? What do you think the artist wanted to communicate?
What questions would you ask the artist about this work if you could?
3. You can write your analysis and interpretation as an essay, or consider a creative presentation application like Google Slides or Prezi to help you focus your audience on the details of the artwork you find most significant.
