Kameyama 1906

This woodblock print, Kameyama, was made by Utagawa Hiroshige sometime before 1858. I imagine the artist carving into the wood, making each mark count. The lines create a wintry scene of Kameyama, one of the fifty-three stations along the Tōkaidō road. I can almost feel the cold air, and see the light reflecting off the snow. Hiroshige has managed to capture the quiet essence of a winter landscape. Look at the long, almost comical pine trees—they look like they’re struggling uphill. Are those tiny figures climbing the steep path to the house? I imagine Hiroshige was thinking about the journey, the perseverance it takes to overcome obstacles, and the quiet beauty that can be found even in the harshest conditions. Hiroshige has inspired so many artists with his ability to capture a place and a feeling. He reminds us that art is about seeing the world in a new way, finding beauty in the everyday, and sharing that vision with others.