Title : Yokkaichi : The Mie River (station # 44)

Artist : Utagawa Hiroshige

Date : c. 1833 - 1834

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : The forty-fourth station on the Tökaidö, Yokkaichi is located in current Mie Prefecture and is now one of the largest industrial areas of Japan. This print depicts a rural scene on a windy day, with only two travelers visible. One man is chasing his straw hat, while the other man’s coat is blown by a sudden gust. The horizontal red band in the sky suggests that it is twilight. The color gradation seen in the sky is called a linear gradation (ichimonji bokashi ), and is often utilized in Hiroshige’s landscapes. Color is brushed on to dampened areas to achieve this effect. The technique began to be used extensively after the 1830s, when landscape prints became popular. ("The Tôkaidô Road: Connecting Japan" exhibition Nov/26/2009-Jan/24/2010)

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