UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS: Postcards featuring the works of Utagawa Hiroshige

The Sea at Satta in Suruga Province

駿河 薩多海上 (Suruga Satta Kaijo)

1858

Fom the series “Thirty-six Views of Fuji”

Mount Fuji is depicted as sturdy and immovable in contrast to the waves crashing against the rocks and tentative boats attempting to navigate them. The fragility of the boats is echoed by the pine trees clinging to the cliff face, which in turn would be being slowly eroded by the waves.

The Grounds of Kameido Tenjin Shrine

亀戸天神境内 (Kameido Tenjin keidai )

1856

From the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”

Hiroshige gazes our eyes through wisteria flowers and on to the steep, yet graceful drum bridge. Our eyes follow the people crossing the bridge and around into the lake where sparrows fly across it. Pine trees adorn the foreground and background edges showing us the great depth of the scene and subsequently bringing to our attention, the great importance of the bridge’s large scale within the large lake.

In the Mountains of Izu Province

伊豆の山中 (Izu no sanchu)

1859

Fom the series “Thirty-six Views of Fuji”

Mount Fuji stand calmly as though there since the dawn of time. The mountain valley clothes Fuji in luscious green whilst a soft sash formed by the river, echoing the sky above Fuji, flows unendingly downwards almost seemingly out of the print itself.

Yuhi Hill at Meguro in the Eastern Capital

東都 目黒夕日ヶ岡 (Toto Meguro Yuhigaoka)   

1858

Fom the series “Thirty-six Views of Fuji”

Mount Fuji is almost totally obscured from view by trees adorning Yuhi Hill. We gaze at the red foliage through expansive fields and are eventually rewarded with a glimpse of Fuji.