Okabe- View of Mount Utsu c. 1840 - 1842

This is Utagawa Hiroshige's "Okabe - View of Mount Utsu," a woodblock print now residing in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its composition is immediately striking, divided into distinct planes that guide our eye through the scene. Notice how the solid green mass of the mountain on the left is visually balanced by the open space on the right, where travelers rest. This carefully constructed asymmetry draws us into the artwork, leading the eye along the road. The artist’s use of line is also crucial. The lines etched into the mountain give texture and depth while the delicate lines defining the figures give form to the narrative. Hiroshige's strategic use of perspective and composition doesn't just depict a scene, it creates a sense of journey, inviting us to consider how travel and landscape intersect with human experience.