五十三次名所図会 草津|Kusatsu

Utagawa Hiroshige, one of the last great masters of the ukiyo-e tradition, is renowned for his landscape prints, a departure from the genre's typical focus on actors and beautiful women. This piece, 'Kusatsu' from the series 'Famous Views of the Fifty-three Stations' (Gojūsan tsugi meisho zue), created in 1855, exemplifies his later work. Hiroshige's landscape series, particularly his 'Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō,' revolutionized the genre, influencing Western artists like Van Gogh and Monet through Japonism. This print showcases his characteristic poetic and ambient approach, distinguishing him from Hokusai's bolder compositions. Hiroshige's subtle use of color and extensive application of 'bokashi' (color gradation) — labor-intensive techniques — are evident here, creating a nuanced and evocative scene. This work is a testament to his enduring legacy and his mastery of capturing the essence of Japan's natural and traveled landscapes.