Distant View of Shimizu Port from Ejiri 1841 - 1842

This print, Distant View of Shimizu Port from Ejiri, was made by Utagawa Hiroshige using woodblock printing, a painstaking process that involved carving a separate block for each color. Think about the labor involved. First, the key lines would be cut on one block, then additional blocks would be carved to apply each color individually, building up the final image. This print belongs to a series depicting scenes along the Tokaido Road, a major route connecting Edo, modern-day Tokyo, with Kyoto. Now, consider how the process affects the image. The flat planes of color create a sense of depth, while the crisp lines define the forms of the trees and figures. This wasn't just art for art's sake, these prints were commercial products, made for a growing urban audience eager for images of the world around them. Woodblock prints democratized art, making it accessible to a wider population. So, next time you look at a print like this, remember the many hands involved and the social forces that shaped its creation.