Temple Steps in Snow c. 19th century

This woodblock print was made by Utagawa Hiroshige in Japan; it pictures the urban landscape of Edo covered in snow. Hiroshige pictures the built environment and urban life in the city, but he seems to focus on the experience of the everyday person who lives there. A closer look reveals how the artist uses a specific set of visual codes. Notice the temple in the top left corner which shows the prominence of religion in Japanese culture and the steps which provide access to it. And the way the artist depicts the figures on the steps as small and relatively anonymous: they don't seem to be members of the elite. The image subtly promotes social harmony. Art like this reflects the values of the society that produced it. An art historian might look at a range of primary and secondary sources to help uncover the social and political conditions that shaped Hiroshige's artistic vision.