Mountain River on the Kiso Road Possibly 1857 - 1858

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print called, ‘Mountain River on the Kiso Road.’ Hiroshige lived in a Japan that, while feudal, was increasingly urbanized. The Kiso Road, also known as the Nakasendō, was a vital path connecting Edo, modern day Tokyo, to Kyoto. Hiroshige’s prints allowed people who would likely never travel to experience the various landscapes of Japan. In this print, the almost monochromatic palette evokes the stillness of winter, a kind of hush that can fall over a landscape with a heavy snowfall. The near absence of human presence further emphasizes the sublimity of nature, and reminds us of our small place within it. The cool color palette has an emotional resonance, conveying the feeling of a cold winter's day, which might remind us of the cycles of nature, both its beauty and its sometimes harsh realities.