Yokohama at Noge in Musashi Province Possibly 1858

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print titled, Yokohama at Noge in Musashi Province. Hiroshige lived and worked during the Edo period, a time of political stability and economic growth in Japan. Though the Tokugawa shogunate implemented strict social hierarchies and isolationist policies, this time was also marked by the flourishing of urban culture and the rise of the merchant class. It was within this environment that artists like Hiroshige found opportunities to create art for a broader audience beyond the elite. Yokohama at Noge offers a serene view of the Japanese landscape. In the foreground, boats glide across calm waters toward the silhouetted peak of Mount Fuji. The print invites us to reflect on our place within the natural world, yet, it also serves as a reminder of the intersection between nature and society. Hiroshige’s work reflects the identities, social structures, and cultural values of his time.