Numazu 1855

This is "Numazu," a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created in the 19th century during the Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity in Japan that fostered a flourishing of the arts. Hiroshige was known for his poetic depictions of landscapes and daily life, capturing the essence of Japan's natural beauty and the human experience within it. Here, a snow-covered scene depicts travelers crossing a bridge, with Mount Fuji serenely watching in the distance. Woodblock prints at this time were often produced by a workshop where the artist was the designer, but the carving and printing was done by artisans of a lower class. This piece offers a window into the lives of ordinary people and the realities of travel, while also imbuing the landscape with an emotional resonance. Hiroshige’s ability to evoke a sense of place and feeling invites us to reflect on our own connection to the world around us.