Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems 1846

This is "Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems" by Utagawa Hiroshige, a woodblock print made in Japan during the Edo period. The print offers us a window into the samurai culture and its intersection with artistic and literary traditions. In the upper register we see a classical portrait, and calligraphic script that signals this work's relationship to poetry. Below, there is a depiction of a warrior, possibly referencing a famous poem or historical narrative. Consider the position of the samurai in Edo society: they are protectors, artists, and scholars. Hiroshige uses the print medium to make this image accessible to a broader audience, speaking to both the elite and the emerging merchant classes. The emotional depth of the warrior's expression, combined with the artistic references, invites viewers to contemplate the complex identities and values of the time. Through this work, Hiroshige invites us to reflect on how history, art, and identity converge in the visual culture of Edo Japan, connecting the personal and the political in profound ways.