Terugkerende zeilen naar Yabase c. 1810

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print titled "Terugkerende zeilen naar Yabase" somewhere between 1830 and 1850, in Japan. Woodblock prints like this were not considered 'high art' and were made for the common person. The artwork depicts boats returning to Yabase, a scene of everyday life, framed by a circle and Japanese text. Hiroshige created a sense of depth and distance by using soft colors. During this period in Japan, artists like Hiroshige were influenced by a growing interest in landscape and genre scenes, which reflected a changing society and a rising merchant class. This print, with its intimate view of returning sails, speaks to the rhythms of daily life and the connection between people and their environment. It also mirrors a sense of longing for simpler times. While traditional in its medium and subject matter, Hiroshige's work opened up new ways of seeing the world, inviting viewers to contemplate the beauty and transience of life. This print reminds us of the emotional and personal connection to our environment. It captures a quiet moment of reflection on the beauty of the everyday world.