Haneda Ferry and Benten Shrine (Haneda no watashi Benten no yashiro), Number 72 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei) Possibly 1858

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, "Haneda Ferry and Benten Shrine," from his "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" series. I’m struck by the unusual perspective; it feels so immediate and immersive. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The cropping is indeed unconventional, focusing on the formal arrangement of elements: the strong diagonal of the boat’s beam, the rhythmic repetition of waves, and the subtle contrast between the foreground’s dark blues and the background’s muted pastels. Notice how these formal decisions guide our eye through the space. Editor: I see what you mean! The diagonal really emphasizes the depth and draws you into the scene. It’s less about the literal place, and more about how we perceive space and form. Curator: Precisely. The subject becomes secondary to the print's structural and visual qualities. Editor: Thank you, I will now look at art in terms of forms rather than subjects.