Halvemaan 1830 - 1834

This is Halvemaan, a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent artist of the Ukiyo-e style during the Edo period in Japan. Against a blue night sky, Hiroshige contrasts the steep, opposing cliffs with the delicacy of the moon. A bridge spans the gorge, suggesting a pathway between two separate realms. Ukiyo-e prints were not just aesthetic objects but cultural artifacts that catered to the tastes of the emerging merchant class and their desire for representations of fashionable life and beautiful landscapes. The moonlight and rushing waterfall evoke a sense of solitude and contemplation, common themes in Japanese art which reflect Buddhist and Shinto philosophies. While this print captures a serene natural scene, it is important to remember the socio-economic context in which it was created. Hiroshige's work reflects the unique cultural identity of Japan at a time when it was largely closed off from the rest of the world, preserving its distinct artistic traditions.