107. Fukagawa Susaki and Jūmantsubo 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print titled "Fukagawa Susaki and Jūmantsubo." It’s part of his series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," which captures the rapidly changing social landscape of 19th-century Edo, now Tokyo. This print places us in the winter of Edo, with a keen-eyed eagle dominating the view over the vast, snow-covered landscape. The eagle, a symbol of strength and freedom, contrasts the vulnerability of the scene. The small, almost imperceptible figures in the landscape give a sense of the human scale amidst nature's grandeur, and remind us of their daily lives. Hiroshige masterfully plays with perspective, inviting us to contemplate our place within the world. Does the artist celebrate the resilience of the common people, or does he offer a commentary on their insignificance against the backdrop of nature? In the quiet beauty of this scene, we are invited to ponder the complex interplay of identity, society, and the environment.