c. 1831
Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川 広重 Japanese, 1797-1858
Japan
The early impressions of this design, like the print seen here, were printed almost entirely in shades of blue, with a subtle gradation (bokashi) from blue to white in the water. Only the pink clouds prevent the impression on the left from being an “all blue” (aizuri-e) print. Later impressions use several other colors and now, the water is a solid blue.
The design was printed with a decorative border which was has been entirely trimmed in this print and partially trimmed in the other print.
Color woodblock print; oban