Title : Crowds at the Height of Cherry Blossoms

Artist : Katsushika Hokusai

Date : c. 1809- 1813

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : This print was conserved with the support of the Robert F. Lange Foundation. This print depicts the beautiful spring scenery with cherry blossoms at Yatsuyama Mountain in the district of Shinagawa, part of present-day Tokyo. Known during the Edo period for its cherry blossoms and the Zen temple Tökaiji, Shinagawa was also a bustling way station and the southern gateway in and out of the city of Edo. In this print the street vendors, crowds of people, and boats loaded with cargo illustrate the busy town's atmosphere. At the same time, the delicate use of various shades of pink in the misty clouds and cherry blossoms lend a sense of tranquility to the scene. According to art historian Wakasugi Junji, by obstructing some areas of a print, misty clouds such as these allow the viewer to imagine what is beyond them.

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