View of Mt. Asama from the Usui Pass (ca. 1850, Met-Objekt 4652)
Original title: View of Mt. Asama from the Usui Pass
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi made this color woodblock print around 1850, capturing a view from the Usui Pass with Mount Asama in sight. Ink and color on paper form the basis, and the sheet belongs to Japanese landscape depiction.
Description
Dense trees in dark blues and greens, along with boulders, line a path that leads down to a small settlement. On a rock stands a traveler with a basket on his back, gazing across at the mountain. A mighty, cloud-wrapped mountain in varying shades of blue dominates the background. White and blue cloud shadings cover large parts of the sky. Japanese characters and seals are integrated into the image.
Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was one of the important artists of the ukiyo-e school and turned increasingly to landscape in a phase when landscape prints became popular through Hokusai and Hiroshige. The Usui Pass formed a significant mountain route in Kōzuke Province, and Mount Asama is an active volcano in that area. This print comes from Kuniyoshi's later creative period, when he devoted himself more frequently to landscapes.
Impact
Predominant blue and gray tones evoke a quiet, almost meditative mood. The powerful mountain rising behind the dark foreground elements creates a sublime natural scene and invites the viewer to linger.
Technique
As a nishiki-e, the print was made in woodblock technique, using multiple color blocks to achieve fine gradations and areas. Clear lines and flat coloring characterize Japanese woodblock practice of the 19th century.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)