Otsuki Plain in Kai Province (Kai Otsuki no hara), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
34.7 × 22.9 cm (13 11/16 × 9 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
60334
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition, created *Otsuki Plain in Kai Province (Kai Otsuki no hara)* in 1858 as part of his renowned series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)*. This late work, produced just before his death, showcases Hiroshige's poetic eye for landscape, rivaling his contemporary Hokusai's earlier Fuji series. From the expansive Otsuki Plain in Kai Province (modern-day Yamanashi), Mount Fuji looms majestically in the distance, framed by everyday rural life—travelers, farmers, and thatched roofs—evoking the harmonious blend of nature and human activity in Edo-period Japan. Printed in the large oban format (34.7 × 22.9 cm), this color woodblock exemplifies the collaborative artistry of ukiyo-e: carvers, printers, and publishers working from Hiroshige's designs to layer vibrant inks for atmospheric depth. His signature style employs subtle gradations (bokashi) and unconventional perspectives, capturing fleeting weather and light to infuse the sacred peak with emotional resonance. Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan's spiritual heart, inspired pilgrims and artists alike during the isolated Tokugawa era. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print highlights ukiyo-e's role as accessible "pictures of the floating world," bridging elite art and popular culture. Visitors will appreciate Hiroshige's enduring legacy in influencing Impressionists like Van Gogh.
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...