New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree Possibly 1857 - 1859

Utagawa Hiroshige's woodblock print, New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, captures a traditional Japanese folk belief. It invites us to consider the social and cultural role of the artist in Edo-period Japan. This image brings to life the tale of foxes gathering under a tree on New Year's Eve, their breath appearing as flames. Consider how Hiroshige uses visual codes to imbue the scene with meaning. The presence of foxes alludes to folklore, while the bare tree suggests the passing of time and transition to a new year. The night sky, a vast and inky space, hints at the spiritual unknown. The inclusion of these elements suggests a society deeply connected to its environment and local traditions. To fully understand such artworks, we, as historians, must delve into period documents, folklore, and studies of Japanese social customs, considering how traditions shape both the artist's vision and the viewer's reception.