Kameyama, een opklaring na sneeuwval 1828 - 1835

This is Utagawa Hiroshige's woodblock print, ‘Kameyama, een opklaring na sneeuwval’, located here at the Rijksmuseum. The scene is dominated by the sweeping diagonal of the snow-covered landscape. Hiroshige masterfully uses colour to define space. Notice how the gradation from blue at the top to the soft pink on the left suggests a vast, open sky. The dark blues and greys on the right, where the snow-laden trees cling to the hillside, create a sense of depth. The composition draws on traditional Japanese aesthetics, emphasizing asymmetry and a dynamic balance. The stark white of the snow contrasts with the dark, angular lines of the trees and the architecture nestled on the hill, creating a visual rhythm. The figures ascending the path add a human element, yet they are secondary to the dominating natural environment. Through line and colour, Hiroshige captures not just a landscape, but a feeling of serene isolation, a moment of quietude after a snowfall. The print offers a space for contemplation on nature's power.