Reizigers in een storm 1880 - 1890

Shibata Zeshin created "Reizigers in een storm," a woodcut print that captures figures struggling against the elements in nineteenth-century Japan. Zeshin lived during the end of the Edo period into the Meiji era, a time of immense social and political change as Japan opened to the West, ending centuries of self-imposed isolation. The print depicts a group of travelers hunched over, battling a fierce storm. Their bodies are angled against the wind and rain, which suggests a narrative of resilience, a theme often linked to the experiences of ordinary people during times of upheaval. The smallness of the figures compared to the immensity of the storm might evoke feelings of vulnerability, while the travelers' determination suggests a collective will to survive. Zeshin’s attention to detail and expressive line work bring an emotional depth to this seemingly simple scene. The artwork serves as a visual metaphor for broader societal struggles, capturing both the hardships and the enduring strength of individuals facing adversity.