Katsushika Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e I will explain Tama River in Musashi Province in Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
I will explain the ukiyo-e “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai.
The Tamagawa River, which is the subject of Ukiyo-e, is the Tama River. The Tamagawa is a river that flows from Yamanashi to Kanagawa via Tokyo.
This figure is thought to be the view from the ferry around Chofu or Fuchu, which is in the middle reaches of the river.
This ukiyo-e has a composition in which the picture is divided into three stages, each of which is combined with the figure, creating a natural atmosphere.
In the foreground, only a farmer-like man pulls a horse along a riverside without even a house, creating a lonely atmosphere.
In the middle background, a boat carrying travelers is heading for the opposite bank. The surface of the river is slightly wavy and shows a fast flow, but it is expressed only with indigo wipes and indigo lines.
The shading is applied to make the surface of the water shine white, and the ripples are actually printed without paint.
By drawing the river along the diagonal axis of the screen, and adding detailed wave patterns, I am trying to create an image of a rapid flow.
The boatman appears to be rowing desperately to avoid being washed away.
In the distant view, the snow-capped Mt.
This ukiyo-e is from around 1830 to 1832. Hokusai is around 72 years old.
