81. Ushimachi in Takanawa 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, *Ushimachi in Takanawa*, offers a glimpse into 19th-century Japanese life. Produced during the Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity, the print captures a serene coastal scene, but also reflects the strict social hierarchy that defined the era. The ox cart in the foreground speaks to the labor and class divisions of the time. While the distant boats evoke a sense of freedom and connection to the wider world, the ox, often overlooked, reminds us of the animal labor that underpinned daily life. Hiroshige masterfully plays with perspective, inviting us to consider our own position in relation to the scene. Are we observers, detached from the labor of the ox, or are we implicated in the social structures that depend on its toil? The beauty of the landscape belies the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. Hiroshige invites us to contemplate the emotional and material realities of everyday life and highlights the interconnectedness of labor, nature, and society.