Hakone; The Lake c. 1833 - 1834

Curator: This is "Hakone; The Lake," a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, dating to around 1833-1834. It's part of his famous series, "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō." Editor: My immediate reaction is to the sheer upward thrust of the mountain contrasted by that calm, blue expanse of lake water. It's a powerful visual dichotomy. Curator: Indeed. The print beautifully illustrates the arduous journey along the Tōkaidō road. Notice how the artist depicts the steep Hakone mountains, a natural barrier along the route, and the tiny figures ascending its slope. What does this work tell us about the laborers who built and crossed these landscapes? Editor: Focusing on the purely formal elements, the strong diagonal of the mountain creates depth, and the carefully chosen blocks of color – the greens, blues, and browns – build an immediate, almost tactile experience of the climb. The distant mountains echo the diagonal as well to create a balanced yet dynamic view. Curator: Exactly. It also speaks to the socio-economic context. The Tōkaidō was a crucial artery for trade and pilgrimage, effectively the logistics route connecting Edo, now Tokyo, with Kyoto, but these beautiful prints were sold cheaply, affordable souvenirs reflecting the material reality of travel, not just for the wealthy. They become goods themselves to carry from one place to the next. Editor: The stark contrast between the cool water, the sharp edges of the landforms, and the hazy sky work well as pictorial composition. We can use semiotics here to examine it by noting how it represents elements of traditional Japanese life in travel and communication in the landscape. Curator: We must consider what was consumed by the artist versus what was consumed by those buying the images. I am curious about how this mode of representing landscape influenced perceptions and even affected government investment in road infrastructure at the time. These images shaped that economy. Editor: Fascinating. To me, this artwork showcases an evocative rendering of a challenging natural landscape, beautifully synthesized through the printmaker’s skilled understanding of structure, tone, and semiotic interplay between image and place. Curator: And understanding Hiroshige’s use of line and perspective in light of the road system transforms this view of Hakone into more than just aesthetics. It is an insight into labor, tourism, and the economy.