Snow at Akashi Possibly 1854
utagawa_hiroshige
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, ink, color-on-paper
japan
handmade artwork painting
ink
color-on-paper
wedding around the world
naive art
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
cartoon carciture
decorative art
watercolor
multiple paintbruush use
watercolur painting
"Snow at Akashi" (c. 1854), an uchiwa-e (fan print) by renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, depicts a snowy scene in Akashi, Japan. The print showcases Hiroshige's signature use of vibrant colors and meticulous detail, capturing the beauty of a winter landscape with figures walking through the falling snow. The composition features a prominent figure with an umbrella, showcasing the artist's expertise in conveying the subtle nuances of light and shadow. This woodblock print is a testament to Hiroshige's talent and his enduring legacy in the world of Japanese art.
Comments
Despite the title, the subject of this print is not the "Tale of Genji" itself but rather a nineteenth century takeoff of it, the novel Nise Murasaki inaka Genji (False Murasaki and Rustic Genji) written by Ryñtei Tanehiko. Featuring action and adventure, Ryñtei's adaptation of the classical courtly romance became popular among the masses, which prompted ukiyo-e artists to design prints illustrating scenes from the novel. For this print, Hiroshige depicts Mitsuuji, the hero of the novel, visiting a shrine on Akashi beach with his attendants. Hiroshige exercised artistic license by setting the scene in snow, thus creating a fan with a "cool" image for use during Japan's hot summer months.
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