No. 40 c. 1835 - 1838

Utagawa Hiroshige made this woodblock print, No. 40, in Japan at some point in his career. It is one of the many landscapes for which he is best known. Heavy rain obscures the view of the road, where travelers can be seen rushing for cover. On the right, sheltered under the eaves of a building, figures huddle, sheltering and continuing to trade and work despite the downpour. Hiroshige was working during the Edo period when Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The country was divided into a rigid class structure. It also experienced significant economic growth and urbanization. Woodblock prints like these were a popular form of art during this time, and mass production made them affordable for merchants and commoners. We can better understand the social context and function of this print by looking at travel guides, commercial records, and other prints from this time. When we do this, we come to see the image as a visual document of both Japan's changing landscape and its evolving social structures.