Hodogaya 1906

This woodblock print, Hodogaya, was made by Utagawa Hiroshige. I love how Hiroshige captures the everyday in such a profound way. Imagine him, setting up his materials, maybe working outside, carefully carving each block. I wonder if he was trying to capture a specific feeling or moment in time, or just the simple beauty of the landscape. The way he uses color is so delicate and subtle; it almost feels like a watercolor. And the composition is so well-balanced, with the bridge leading our eye into the distance. What’s so cool about painting, or printmaking, is that it's a conversation between the artist, the materials, and the world around them. And when we look at a piece like this, we become part of that conversation too. There’s no right or wrong way to interpret it; it’s all about what it makes you feel and think. I feel like I'm there on the bridge with them!