Mushroom Gathering at Kumano in Kii Province (Kishu Kumano iwatake tori) from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)”

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Hiroshige II created this vibrant color woodblock print in 1860 as part of his ambitious series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces.” A student and adopted son of the celebrated Hiroshige I, the younger artist carried forward the ukiyo-e tradition of capturing Japan’s scenic beauty for an eager urban audience. The ōban-sized sheet depicts the rugged mountains of Kumano in Kii Province, where figures gather iwata ke—an edible mountain lichen prized for its delicate flavor—amid misty peaks and winding paths. Kumano had long been revered as a sacred pilgrimage site, its remote landscapes tied to Shinto and Buddhist devotion. By highlighting everyday activity within this spiritual setting, Hiroshige II blends the awe-inspiring natural world with the rhythms of ordinary life, inviting viewers to imagine traveling to these celebrated locales. The print’s layered colors and crisp lines reflect the refined woodblock techniques of late Edo-period Japan, when such affordable images helped popularize regional wonders across the country. Today, this work in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection offers a window into a moment when art, travel, and spirituality intersected, preserving both the visual poetry of the landscape and the quiet industry of mushroom gatherers.

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...