Travelling in a Snowstorm 1820 - 1840

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this woodblock print, "Travelling in a Snowstorm," in the 19th century. Immediately, one notices the stark contrast: the cold blues and whites of the snow-covered landscape are punctuated by the warm, almost defiant, red of the traveler’s attire. Kuniyoshi masterfully employs diagonal lines, from the sloping hillside to the falling snow, creating a dynamic, almost unsettling composition. This contrasts with the more stable horizontal lines of the village roofs and the sea. The print uses the traditional Japanese technique of Ukiyo-e, which means “pictures of the floating world”. Kuniyoshi challenges this genre. Instead of offering viewers an image of transient pleasures or idealized beauty, Kuniyoshi presents us with an image of nature's indifference and humanity's struggle against it. Ultimately, the print's power lies in its ability to evoke the sublime. We are left contemplating the fragility of human existence when confronted with the overwhelming forces of nature. The composition and symbolism converge to create a powerful statement about human resilience.