View of Mt. Asama from the Usui Pass (ca. 1850, Met-Objekt 4653)
Original title: View of Mt. Asama from the Usui Pass
kurzbeschreibung
Utagawa Kuniyoshi's colour woodblock print, made around 1850, records the view from the Usui Pass toward Mount Asama. Printed in ink and colour on paper during the Edo period, the sheet belongs to the landscape genre.
Description
The horizontal format layers distant mountain ranges in blue and brown behind a foreground of trees and shrubs in dark blues and greens. At the right, on a ridge, a figure in traditional dress, hat and red robe looks out into the distance. Further back along a path, other figures and animals can be made out. Broad, flat clouds in grey and blue fill the sky, and characters appear at the upper left.
Context
Kuniyoshi ranks among the leading woodblock masters of the Edo period and is known for landscapes as well as historical scenes. The Usui Pass linked Edo with Kyoto and appears often in travel pictures. Around 1850, demand for landscape views in Japan was especially high. Mount Asama, an active volcano, points to the period's interest in celebrated natural sites.
Impact
Muted, dark tones give the sheet a calm, peaceful mood and draw the viewer into the quiet landscape. The clear separation of foreground and distance creates depth and directs the eye to the central figure, producing a contemplative atmosphere.
Technique
Lines and hatching were cut into woodblocks and printed with water-based colours on paper; crisply outlined forms and flat colour gradations define the result. This method is characteristic of ukiyo-e. Blues, browns and greens dominate the palette, while the red of the robe provides an accent.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)