In the Mountains of Izu Province Possibly 1858

Utagawa Hiroshige’s ‘In the Mountains of Izu Province’ was made with woodblock printing, a process that deeply influenced the image’s aesthetic. The printmaking process itself, requiring a division of labor, where specialized artisans transfer the artists designs onto woodblocks, then carve and print them, reflects the growing urbanization and commercialization of Japan at the time. The distinct lines and blocks of color we see are direct results of the carving and printing process, each color demanding a separate block. Notice the flat expanses of color defining the landscape, and the way the lines delineate forms, from the trees to the distant Mount Fuji. The material qualities of wood, ink, and paper, all readily available, facilitated the mass production and consumption of these images by a public eager for affordable art. The very act of producing and selling these prints was an engagement with the burgeoning capitalist economy. So, when you look at this print, consider not only the beauty of the landscape, but also the social context and collaborative labor that brought it into being.