Bay at Kominato in Awa Province 

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, "Bay at Kominato in Awa Province" as part of a series called "Pictures of Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces". The series draws on a famous poetic tradition, the “List of Country Names,” a popular game that became the basis for mapping Japan's regional identities. Hiroshige’s print captures the atmosphere of Awa Province. He plays with the idea of regional identity, emphasizing the importance of geography, trade, and the social conditions that shaped its unique culture. The composition is divided into distinct zones: the bay, the coastline, and the mountains. This contrasts with the small figures walking, giving the viewer a sense of scale. Hiroshige presents an idealized vision of Japan, even as the country was undergoing rapid social and economic change. Understanding the social and institutional context of this print requires research into the history of Japanese printmaking, its relationship to tourism and trade, and the cultural values it expresses. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was created and consumed.