LANDSCAPE c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Landscape" by Utagawa Hiroshige. It's a print, undated, but held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a busy scene, full of boats and people. I'm curious, what does this landscape reveal about its time? Curator: Notice how the image presents a bustling scene of commerce and leisure coexisting. How do you think the artist’s choice to include the bridge and so many boats reflects the socio-economic values of that period? Editor: It suggests a society that values trade and travel. The bridge, especially, connects different communities. Curator: Precisely. This image, reproduced and widely available, played a role in shaping perceptions of Edo Japan, both domestically and internationally. It presents a carefully curated image of a dynamic society. Editor: That's a great point. I never thought about the image itself having a political role.