Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo c. 1837 - 1838

Utagawa Hiroshige's "Evening Snow at Asuka Hill" is a woodblock print, part of his series "Eight Views of the Environs of Edo." Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, involves carving a design into wood, inking it, and pressing paper onto the block. Each color requires a separate block, making it a laborious, multi-stage process. The visual effect relies on the grain of the wood itself, which can be seen in the fine lines and textures throughout the print, and the way the ink interacts with the paper. The soft, muted tones and delicate lines beautifully capture the stillness of a snowy evening. The print offers a glimpse into the social context of Edo-period Japan, with figures making their way through the snow-covered landscape. The production of *ukiyo-e* prints was tied to the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, and the amount of work involved in the production process, by artisans, invites reflection. The act of making, and the careful selection of materials, are essential to understanding this image, blurring the line between craft and fine art.