Fukagawa Susaki and Jūmantsubo c. 1857

This woodblock print of Fukagawa Susaki and Jūmantsubo was made by Utagawa Hiroshige, portraying a landscape dominated by a falcon diving towards the earth. This bird is no mere animal; across cultures, the falcon is an emblem of piercing insight, its gaze mirroring a connection between the heavens and earth. Consider the ancient Egyptians, who revered Horus, a falcon-headed god embodying kingship and protection. The falcon’s symbolic flight has traversed time and space, appearing on emblems of power and spiritual illumination. Here, its fierce presence elicits a primal response. There is an emotional power embedded in its predatory focus, its poised body capturing a moment of intense anticipation, engaging viewers at a subconscious level. Observe how the falcon in Hiroshige’s image, imbued with centuries of accumulated cultural significance, resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meaning within the context of Edo-period Japan. A cyclical progression reveals the enduring presence and transformational power of visual symbols.