Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

Kawaguchi no watashi Zenkôji, 1857. 

(Kawaguchi Ferry and Zenkoji Temple)

From the series “Meisho Edo hyakkei” (“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”) (1856-1858)

Woodcut on paper

Instituto Moreira Salles Collection 

Water in Floating Worlds

Surrounded by oceans and intercut by countless rivers, Japan developed its culture based on a strong connection with water. Daily life in the Japanese archipelago, always permeated by abundant water resources, is reflected in the agriculture, means of transportation, habits and even religious rituals and beliefs. The presence of water has also become a frequent theme in artistic representations of Japan, such as in the popular Japanese woodcuts known as ukiyo-e, produced from the 17th to the 19th century.

The literal meaning of ukiyo-e (浮世絵) can be translated as “images of the floating world,” referring to the recurring themes of these woodcuts, which often feature scenes of entertainment of the era, natural landscapes, portraits of famous artists and scenes of the ancient capital Edo, now Tokyo.

One of the most renowned ukiyo-e artists was Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), known for his diverse representations of nature in each season of the year. His most famous works are part of the series entitled “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” (1856-1858), created toward the end of his life. Like the works of other ukiyo-e artists, like Katsushika Hokusai and Kitagawa Utamaro, his woodcuts conquered the world and inspired great artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

In the work Kawaguchi no watashi Zenkôji (“Kawaguchi Ferry and Zenkoji Temple”), water serves as transport for a vessel that crosses a river, as well as some loaded with logs that follow the same flow. The Prussian blue color creates a diagonal line at the center of the work which, associated with the lighter, greenish tones, simulates the movement and fluidity of the water. Around the great waterway, local life reveals itself delicately: houses on a bank, people in the bottom corner who appear to be talking, others who are heading toward the temple at the top.

With focus on the water, the life that takes place next to this element is portrayed, showing the action of people, something that can also be observed in the famous work The Great Wave off Kanagawa, part of the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" by the artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), which highlights the wave itself but also presents small boats with people, again representing the close relationship between human beings and nature in various everyday situations.

This woodcut belongs to the collection of the Moreira Salles Institute (IMS), which has 155 ukiyo-e works, most dating from the 19th century, portraying in vibrant colors landscapes, customs, work scenes and Kabuki theater actors.