Triptych: Sumida River in the Snow, from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital c. 19th century

Editor: So this is Utagawa Hiroshige's *Triptych: Sumida River in the Snow* from the series *Famous Places in the Eastern Capital*. It gives off a serene, almost melancholic vibe, even with that gorgeous peach sky. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Notice how the river acts as a symbolic divide, yet also a connector between different aspects of life. The snow, of course, represents purity and stillness, but also the cyclical nature of time. Does the arrangement of the panels suggest a narrative flow to you? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It does seem to lead the eye from left to right, almost like reading a story. Curator: Exactly. And consider the bare trees. They are potent symbols of resilience and the promise of renewal after a period of dormancy. Editor: It's amazing how much meaning is packed into such a seemingly simple landscape. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. The interplay between visual elements and cultural memory is quite rich, isn't it?