Katsushika Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e I will explain Lake Suwa in Shinano Province in Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
Lake Suwa in this ukiyo-e is a lake in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture. Lake Suwa in Shinshu was a popular tourist spot at the time, as Eisen and Hiroshige also drew it.
Kamisuwa, Shimosuwa and other towns have developed along the shores of Lake Suwa since ancient times.
The castle in the distance is Takashima Castle. Fuji seen over Lake Suwa was created using only shades of indigo. Beautifully expressed by the ukiyo-e technique of indigo printing.
The fact that there is only one boat floating on Lake Suwa can also be said to be Hokusai’s disgusting production.
Hokusai’s skillful use of perspective is also unique to Hokusai. Lake Suwa is depicted with a shrine to Benzaiten and two pine trees on the protruding rock in the center of the painting.
Takashima Castle is built in the form of protruding into the lake as it is commonly called “Floating Castle”. Takashima Castle had a village that mainly engaged in fishing.
On clear days, you can see Mt.Fuji from Lake Suwa.
Lake Suwa is arranged so as to look down from two large V-shaped pine trees that block the screen, and a shrine to Benzaiten is placed to resemble the shape of Mt. Fuji.
Hokusai’s ukiyo-e shows a strong commitment to composition. The bold composition of this work also influenced the Impressionist painter Monet.
An influence is suggested on his series of Customs Officer’s Huts perched on the edge of a cliff.
The Bentenjima Island where this shrine was located was scraped off during the irrigation work in the Edo period. Fishing boats are drawn, but on Lake Suwa, Gengorō carp from Lake Biwa in Omi Province, small shrimp from Lake Kawaguchi in Kai Province,
Clams were released from Otorozawa in Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and fisheries called Akemi fishery and Kooribiki fishery flourished.
This ukiyo-e is from around 1830 to 1832. Hokusai is around 72 years old.
