Mount Kusuri on the Road to Zenko Temple, Shinshu Province (Shinshu Zenkoji michi Kusuriyama) from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)”

Art Historical Context

In this vibrant color woodblock print from 1859, Utagawa Hiroshige II ( known as Shigenobu captures *Mount Kusuri on the to Zenko Temple,shu Province*, part of his acclaimed series *One Hundred Famous in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)*. As a talented pupil and adopted son of the master landscape artist Utagawa Hiroshige I, Hiroshige II carried forward the ukiyo-e of depicting Japan's scenic wonders with poetic sensitivity. Created during the late Edo period, this print reflects the era's fascination with travel and nature amid growing domestic tourism. The composition masterfully blends towering mountains, winding roads, and distant temple structures under a dramatic sky, showcasing Hiroshige II's skill in atmospheric perspective and subtle color gradients achieved through intricate woodblock carving and printing techniques. Tiny figures—pilgrims and travelers—add a human scale, evoking the arduous yet reverent journey to Zenkoji Temple, a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage site in modern-day Nagano Prefecture. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work exemplifies ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing beauty for everyday viewers. Its enduring appeal lies in celebrating Japan's provincial landscapes, bridging art and spirituality just before the Meiji era's upheavals transformed the nation.

About the Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) · 1826–1869

Utagawa Hiroshige II, born Suzuki Chinpei in 1826, was one of the most accomplished ukiyo-e artists of mid-nineteenth century Japan. He entered the studio of the celebrated landscape master Utagawa Hiroshige I — known for his iconic series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" — and proved himself the most talented of the elder artist's few students. So highly regarded was the young pupil that...