Hakone, gezicht op het meer 1828 - 1835

This print of Hakone lake was made by Utagawa Hiroshige using woodblock printing, a complex method requiring a skilled hand. The hazy blue of the lake, the soft oranges in the sky, and the subtle gradations of the mountain greenery, all start with a single block of wood. Hiroshige would have worked with specialist carvers and printers to create the image. A key block, carrying the outlines, would be made first. Additional blocks were then carved to apply the different colors. The inks, made from minerals and plants, were carefully applied, building up the image layer by layer on paper. The fascinating thing about this technique is that its origins are not in art at all. It was originally developed to reproduce Buddhist texts quickly and efficiently. Over time, the process was adapted to create images like this one, connecting the tradition of religious craftsmanship to secular art. Considering the labor-intensive process, the cost would have been relatively low, allowing the circulation of images like this to a wider audience. In this way, we can see the piece as deeply embedded in the economic realities of its time.