Saka no shita 1906

This is ‘Saka no shita’, a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige made sometime in the mid-19th century. I love the graphic quality of this, the way that space is made by flattening things and layering them on top of each other. Look at the textures and how they are laid down, like the way the mountains are built up with these fine, scratchy lines and dabs of grey. The pale blue wash of the sky is so delicate, so different. Everything feels so carefully considered, but also, like it came together almost effortlessly, you know? The ink is thin, almost watery in places, allowing the paper to breathe through. And then you have those dark lines used to create the craggy rocks to the left, and how they contrast with the gentle slope and the tiny figures. It reminds me a little of Arthur Dove in the way it creates an atmospheric landscape from a few simple marks. This piece shows how the conversation between artists stretches across time and place. It's all just a big feedback loop of marks and ideas!