Katsushika Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e I will explain Fukagawamannembashishita in Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
This ukiyo-e Mannenbashi is a bridge that spans the confluence of the Onagi River, which flows from east to west, and the Sumida River, which flows from north to south.
In Fukagawa, which was low above sea level, the stone walls on both sides of the river were raised to prevent flooding.
The first thing that catches your eye is the beautifully curved bridge.
The bridge built over this masonry may have been a great viewing spot where you can see Mt. Fuji from a higher position than the surrounding area.
Fuji is drawn quietly between the bridge girders, but the boat on the water is floating with its bow facing Mt.
Fukagawa Mannenkyo Bridge is located almost halfway between Kiyosumi Shirakawa and Nihonbashi. The light blue river that is almost white is the Onagi River, and the deep blue river that merges in the back is the Sumida River.
The composition is a representative ukiyo-e work of the composition of “Torii Mitate”, which looks at Mt.Fuji through the torii.
From the technical point of view of the work, it can be judged that it was born as a result of the accumulation of ideas such as Kawamura Misetsu’s preceding “Hyakufuji” and “Hashimoto” and Hokusai’s Western-style print prototype “Takahashi no Fuji” during the Bunka era.
The Fukagawa Mannenbashi Bridge is likened to the torii of Mt. Fuji, and the place is regarded as the world of the spirit of Mt. Fuji.
The central point of worship is Mt.Fuji, and the bow of the boat floating under the bridge faces Mt.Fuji.
Each boat is connected to the spirit of Fuji by an invisible gold thread. Two men are peeking in the direction of the boat from the bridge, and the line of sight extends here as well.
An indigo parasol is drawn above the Mannen Bridge, slightly to the left of the center. This tells us that the sun is shining from above the bridge.
Isn’t it a device to give the impression that a divine spirit is descending on Mannenbashi?
The Mannen Bridge itself draws an arc as a drum bridge, so it looks like a sun wheel.
It is clear that Hokusai focused his attention on this foreground, where common people lived.
If you read the 1000'' in Fuji Sengen (Sengen) and1000” in Mannenbashi, you can see it as a comparison of the appearance of cranes and turtles.
This ukiyo-e is from around 1830 to 1832. Hokusai is around 72 years old.
