47 Possibly 1855 - 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, number 47, sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts travelers caught in a downpour, the rain rendered as straight, diagonal lines, and it evokes the social conditions of Japan at this time. Woodblock prints like this were not simply artistic expressions, they were commodities in a burgeoning urban market. Publishers, artists, and block cutters collaborated to meet the demands of a public eager for images of famous places and scenes of everyday life. As Japan opened to the West, these prints also became a means of shaping a national identity. Artists often emphasized the beauty of the landscape. They also drew attention to the harmony between people and nature in line with Japan's state ideology. By studying the production and consumption of prints like this, we can better understand the complex interplay of art, commerce, and politics in 19th-century Japan. Researching publishing history, censorship regulations, and popular travel guides can give us a more complete picture.