Illustrated Book -Souvenir of Edo- vol. 7 1853 - 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, from the series *Souvenir of Edo*, presents us with two contrasting scenes, united by the flowing river. The left panel teems with horizontal energy, full of boats and distant buildings. The right panel offers a contrasting image of verticality, dominated by the figure of a solitary woman, her back turned, standing on a boat. Hiroshige manipulates spatial depth and perspective to structure our gaze. The division between the panels encourages a semiotic reading; the left speaks to the collective, public life of Edo, while the right offers a more intimate, private moment. The woman, framed by the boat’s architecture and overhanging pine branches, is both part of and separate from the landscape. The moon in the top right corner casts a soft glow, enhancing the mood. The arrangement prompts us to reflect on the themes of isolation versus community. Is the woman longing for connection, or finding solace in her solitude? It is through the interplay of these formal elements that Hiroshige invites us to contemplate broader social and emotional states.