Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems 1845 - 1846

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, "Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems," sometime in the 19th century. The print immediately strikes you with its contrasting colors, predominantly soft blues and browns, and the geometric interplay of forms. The figure stands centrally, framed by the organic lines of a blossoming tree, with text boxes above and to the side, creating a carefully structured composition. The artist uses the semiotic system to convey cultural codes. The fan held by the figure, the sword at his side, and the poem inscribed above are all signs that point to the refined world of Japanese art and literature. The attention to line and detail, typical of ukiyo-e prints, serves not just aesthetic purposes, but also conveys a sense of cultural and historical context. Consider how Hiroshige has balanced formal elements with symbolic meanings to reflect on art and representation. It invites us to reconsider how meaning is constructed.