View of the Saruhashi Bridge in Kai Province c. 1842

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print captures the Saruhashi Bridge in Kai Province. The image presents more than just a landscape; it reflects the cultural values of mid-19th century Japan. Hiroshige uses visual codes to convey the harmony between nature and human construction. The Saruhashi Bridge, an architectural marvel, demonstrates human ingenuity, and the surrounding landscape represents the sublimity of nature. This image offers a controlled view of a scene that, in reality, would likely have been much more bustling. The presence of figures crossing the bridge shows us how important infrastructure was in the Edo period in Japan. The print also speaks to the rise of commercial publishing and the demand for landscape prints among the urban middle class. By studying period guidebooks and travelogues we can better understand the social context in which this print was created and consumed. This artwork is one of many that reflects the ever-changing social landscape of the time.