Kisojo no San Sen|木曽路之山川|The Kiso Mountains in Snow

Utagawa Hiroshige

dated 8th month of the Snake year, 1857 · Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

This landscape was executed by Hiroshige just one year before his death as part of a set of three triptychs on the theme known as setsugetsuka (a compound term made up of the words for snow, moon, and flowers). Snow is the theme here; the moon and flowers are depicted in the other two triptychs. The immense snow-covered mountains at the center, flanked by bridges on both sides, are almost spiritual in their monumentality. The dramatic composition invites the viewer to step into a mysterious world beyond the massive white peaks.

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Date

dated 8th month of the Snake year, 1857

Medium

Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1914