Matsushima in Oshu Province 

Editor: So, here we have Utagawa Hiroshige's woodblock print, "Matsushima in Oshu Province". It feels very serene, almost like looking at a dream. All those little islands scattered across the water… what do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, it’s a breath, isn't it? Like a collective exhale of nature itself. I see Hiroshige inviting us into a landscape of floating worlds. Each little island, with its carefully placed trees, feels like a separate thought, doesn't it? Each a moment suspended. I am struck by the vastness suggested despite the print’s size; the artist’s capacity to create depth, not through strict perspective, but through the layered shades of blue. Does that resonate with you at all? Editor: Absolutely! It’s amazing how he creates such a sense of scale with so few elements. It does make me wonder about his process, how much was observed versus imagined? Curator: Exactly the right question! Ukiyo-e, this style of printmaking, wasn’t necessarily about perfect realism, more about capturing the spirit of a place. Hiroshige definitely traveled to Matsushima, but he wasn’t a camera. He distilled his experience into an essence, playing with color, and simplifying form, inviting our imagination to fill in the details. Isn’t that lovely? Editor: It is! It makes the image feel very personal, like we are getting his unique experience. I really appreciate the color choices. Curator: See? It becomes less about the *place*, and more about the *feeling* of Matsushima. The print asks us to slow down, breathe, and find beauty in the everyday. What I didn't realize about woodblock printmaking before now is how unique each and every one is. A collaborative performance each and every time. Editor: It's made me think differently about landscape art. Thank you for this wonderful conversation. Curator: And thank *you* for seeing with such open eyes. It's made me appreciate the "breath" of Hiroshige even more deeply.