Sakurajima Volcanic Island Possibly 1856

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print of Sakurajima Volcanic Island. Prints like this one were produced in Japan to satisfy a growing demand for landscape views and scenes of everyday life. It was a commercial venture supported by publishers and printmakers, and driven by popular culture. Sakurajima, with its distinctive shape and frequent eruptions, may have already been a popular tourist destination. Hiroshige's image makes use of strong diagonal lines to create a sense of depth, drawing the viewer's eye from the boats at the bottom to the mountain at the top, and the red and pink color palette creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, but the volcano’s presence reminds us of the power and unpredictability of nature. We might consider whether Hiroshige's print promotes a conservative view of nature, one in which people are small and powerless in the face of natural forces. To understand the social meaning of this work, we can research the popular print market of 19th century Japan.