Autumn Moon over Ishiyama Temple Possibly 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige created "Autumn Moon over Ishiyama Temple" as a woodblock print in Japan, sometime in the mid-19th century. It's an image of a temple, built for the purpose of viewing the moon and its reflection on Lake Biwa. But it is also an image produced for mass consumption, as woodblock prints like this became affordable and accessible to ordinary people. This print thus presents a paradox. We might ask, does its mass-produced nature diminish its status as a work of art, or does it democratize art and allow for a wider appreciation of beauty? The print is part of a series titled "Eight Views of Omi Province." This references the classical Chinese "Eight Views," adapted to Japanese settings. By referencing this tradition, the image places itself within a historical context, all while subtly commenting on the relationship between Japanese and Chinese culture. To fully understand this print, we might consult historical records, travel guides, or even other prints from the same series. This would reveal the complex social and cultural context in which it was created and consumed.