歌川広重画 「平清盛怪異を見る図」|Taira no Kiyomori's Spectral Vision

Utagawa Hiroshige, a master of ukiyo-e, is renowned for his landscapes, yet this striking triptych, "Taira no Kiyomori's Spectral Vision," delves into a different realm: the supernatural. Created around 1835, it predates many of his famous landscape series like the 'Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō' (c. 1833/34) and 'Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido' (c. 1835/38), but aligns with his broader output of woodblock prints. While Hiroshige is most celebrated for his poetic and ambient landscapes, this piece showcases his versatility, tackling historical and legendary subjects with dramatic flair. The use of a triptych format, common in his later works like 'Kiso Gorge in the Snow' and 'Panorama of the Eight Views of Kanasawa under a Full Moon,' allows for an expansive narrative scene. This print, with its vivid ink and color on paper, captures a moment of intense psychological and supernatural drama, demonstrating why Hiroshige is considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e tradition, even as he explored subjects beyond its typical focus on beautiful women and actors.