Evening Snow on Mt. Hira (Hira no bosetsu), No. 6 from the series "Eight Views of Omi" c. 1716 - 1736

Nishimura Shigenaga made this woodblock print, "Evening Snow on Mt. Hira," around the mid-18th century as part of a series capturing scenic views. Woodblock prints like this played a vital role in Edo-period Japan, as they weren’t just art objects, but also a form of media. The print's visual codes reflect a culture deeply connected to nature. "Eight Views of Omi" became a popular theme, linking art with regional identity. Notice how Shigenaga emphasizes the landscape, with figures rendered on a smaller scale. This draws on established traditions of landscape painting, but it also speaks to the rise of a merchant class with a taste for representations of the local area. To truly understand this print, we need to consider the economic and social conditions of its time. Records of the publishing houses and artist biographies can help us understand this artwork. It’s a reminder that art is always made in response to the world around it.