-No.1- Nihonbashi- 1847 - 1852

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, Nihonbashi, which captures a scene rich with cultural symbols. At its heart, we see a woman holding a map, a bridge bustling with figures, and the iconic Mount Fuji in the background. The bridge, Nihonbashi, was not only a physical structure but also the starting point of the Tokaido Road, a vital route connecting Edo, now Tokyo, with Kyoto. The map in the woman's hands symbolizes journeys, both literal and metaphorical, reminding us of the human desire to explore and understand our place in the world. Mount Fuji, revered as a sacred mountain, embodies the sublime and the eternal. Consider how mountains appear in art across cultures, from the Himalayas in Tibetan thangkas to the peaks in Renaissance paintings. The mountain motif represents a connection between the earthly and the divine. The cultural memory associated with the mountain speaks to a collective subconscious, evoking feelings of awe and spiritual elevation. Each symbol, whether consciously or unconsciously, resonates with viewers on a deep, ancestral level. It is not a linear progression but a cyclical return, each iteration echoing previous meanings while adapting to its new context.